Johnny Kenny couldn’t find his feet at Celtic, but he is already shining in the colours of Bolton Wanderers.
After joining Bolton on a loan deal until the end of the season in January, Kenny netted his first goal for the club at the weekend in a 5-1 rout at Exeter City.
Manager Steven Schumacher was delighted with the ‘threat’ and ‘speed’ Kenny displayed, as he scored and assisted for his promotion-chasing side in England’s third-tier.
“It was a good performance from him,” said Schumacher. “We felt it was the type of game that could suit him, with the spaces, his speed, directness, and the threat that he carries is good to have.”
Kenny had his chances at Celtic, but the chaos in Glasgow this season didn’t help his development, so, hopefully, the calm waters at Bolton will help him take his game to the next level.
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Steven Schumacher reacts to Johnny Kenny scoring and assisting against Exeter City
This was Kenny’s fourth match for Bolton; he had previously started one game and came off the bench twice for Schumacher’s side.
It seems as though the Celtic man is a good omen for the English club because he is yet to taste defeat, but this was by far Bolton’s best performance yet.
Speaking to Wanderers TV, Schumacher listed and highlighted the attributes Kenny is bringing to the table, and how this can lead to him ‘striking up a good partnership’ with fellow teammate, Sam Dalby.
“It was a good performance from him,” said Schumacher. “We felt it was the type of game that could suit him, with the spaces, his speed, directness, and the threat that he carries is good to have.
“I am delighted for him. Hopefully, it gives him a bit of confidence. His movement for his goal was excellent. He gets the flick at the near post, and it’s going in. It gives us a bit of a cushion.
“His work for Sam Dalby’s goal was good as well. Hopefully, they can strike up a good partnership.”
Kenny’s stats for Bolton at Exeter
This was a huge result for Bolton because it further cements their chances of securing a play-off spot, and it leaves them with an outside chance of securing automatic promotion (a top-two finish) to the English Championship.
They are ten points behind second-placed Lincoln City, and the same number of points ahead of seventh-placed Reading, who are sitting just outside of the play-off spots.
Nonetheless, Kenny was handed a quite brilliant 8.8 rating by Sofascore for his performance at Exeter.
- Minutes played: 80
- Goals: 1
- Assists: 1
- Total shots: 5
- Big chances created: 1
- Accurate passes: 8/16
- Accurate Passes in the opposition half: 7/14
- Touches: 35
- Successful dribbles: 2
- Was fouled: 1
- Carries: 10
- Progressive carries: 2
- Tackles won: 1
- Interceptions: 1
- Ground duels won: 4
- Aerial duels won: 2
- Sofascore rating: 8.8
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