McLeish: Celtic have landed a key ‘attacker’ after loan completed
Alex McLeish has tipped Jonjoe Kenny to deliver top performances at both ends of the pitch following his loan move from Everton to Celtic.
The former Rangers and Scotland boss, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, believes the 23-year-old will help shore up the Bhoys’ defence at right-back but will also offer the “bonus” of being a threat down the wing.
Celtic announced the right-back’s temporary arrival on deadline day and he was thrown straight into the starting XI for the 4-0 win over Kilmarnock.
He has joined the Hoops after struggling for game time at Goodison Park during the first-half of the season, with the likes of Seamus Coleman, Mason Holgate, Ben Godfrey and even Alex Iwobi preferred by Carlo Ancelotti.
Kenny’s arrival has come after Celtic sold Jeremie Frimpong to Bayer Leverkusen last month.
With the 20-year-old known for his electrifying pace and attacking intent during his time at Parkhead, McLeish suggested the new arrival would offer more solidity at the back – but insisted he could still pose a threat in the final third.
Asked if a more defensive-minded full-back was what Celtic needed, McLeish told Football Insider: “Yeah, I think Kenny has the ability to do that and he will concentrate on making the back four solid and then the other things are a bonus.
“However, when you’re playing for Celtic or Rangers, then you’re expected to go forward and that’s kind of what has caught big Shane Duffy out, a lot of the defending he would have done in England would have been rearguard stuff and penalty box stuff.
“Celtic don’t sit in their own penalty box – maybe in a Champions League game against a top team they tactically do something different but in the domestic league Celtic are asked to go win every game.
“That’s why the full-backs are supposed to advance and believe me, Jonjoe will go forward, he had a good captain at Everton (Seamus Coleman) who taught him how to do that.”
Kenny, who also spent time out on loan at Schalke, played eight times across all competitions for Everton this season, with just one league start under his belt.
At Celtic, Neil Lennon has also called upon Kristoffer Ajer and Hatem Abd Elhamed at right-back this term.
In other news, three Celtic stars are on trial at Parkhead until the end of the season, claims Football Insider pundit.