By Nick Ware

4th Jan, 2021 | 2:57pm

Everton defender with just 4 PL apps could be set for loan move back to former club - report

Jonjoe Kenny could seal a January loan move away from Everton and return to former club Schalke, according to German newspaper Welt.

The Everton right back has failed to break into the side this season after returning from a successful Schalke loan in the 2019/20 campaign.

After making 31 Bundesliga appearances last season, Kenny was primed to challenge the ageing Seamus Coleman for the right back slot, but this has proved a step too far for the 23-year-old and he has seen just 79 minutes of Premier League action across four games so far, with his only start coming in the 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United on November 1.

Eyeing his possible discontent at irregular game time, Schalke are said to be keen on bringing Kenny back for a second spell at the club, with Welt reporting that sporting director Jochen Schneider is aiming to get him in on a loan deal.

Schalke are currently enduring a horrific season in which they have failed to register a Bundesliga victory, making them the only side in the top five European leagues without a victory to their name.

They are six points adrift of Arminia Bielefeld who occupy the relegation play-off spot, with Mainz sitting between the two sides.

Unfancied Kenny is well down the Everton pecking order

Coleman is the Everton captain and has been a fans favourite for a number of years with his dedication and attacking talents down the right flank.

He has been a reliable performer again for Everton this so far this season, but he has had to share right back duties with Mason Holgate recently.

Coleman missed five games through injury across November and December and Holgate stepped up admirably in his absence, proving to be an assured presence across the Toffees backline.

Given that Holgate is naturally a centre back, a position he reverted to for the West Ham defeat on Friday where Coleman made his first Premier League start since November 7, it appears manager Carlo Ancelotti is not the biggest fan of Kenny’s talents at the moment.

At 24-years-old Holgate is only Kenny’s senior by one year, so it is not as if Ancelotti is opting for a wealth of experience ahead of Kenny, but simply prefers him as Coleman’s challenger.

A temporary move to Schalke might be an unappealing proposition to Kenny given the struggles of the Bundesliga basement boys, but the opportunity of regular game time is something he needs to seriously consider as he battles to prove his worth and forge an Everton future.

In other Everton news, our view on what went wrong in the Blues defence against West Ham.