View: Everton ace Jonjoe Kenny shows positive long-term future signs
Having failed to make his mark in the Everton team aged 24, Jonjoe Kenny’s future at the club looked uncertain.
Year after year, Toffees legend Seamus Coleman has occupied the right back position and the signing of Nathan Patterson looked to seal the fate of Kenny at his boyhood club.
The Liverpool born player has often come under scrutiny for his lack of attacking ability throughout his career as the expectation increasingly grows on fullbacks to increase their offensive output.
Frank Lampard put trust in Kenny at left back in the Blues clash against Leeds United and he more than repaid that by being one of the Toffees brightest attacking players.
As relayed by Everton the defender made two key passes and struck three accurate long balls throughout the game which helped him secure his highest WhoScored rating of the season.
Most notably, Kenny’s three successful dribbles saw him top the Everton charts with one of them leading to a goal.
He receives the ball wide left in the picture with Raphinha to beat.
Not only did he breeze past the Leeds man, the Blues ace whipped in an excellent ball to the back post that on another day would have been buried by Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
His beautifully carved out cross with the outside of his right foot was then recycled back into the box which led to the Toffees first and most important goal of the game.
Not only is his attacking output improving under Lampard’s influence, but Kenny put in such an admirable performance on his weaker side, imagine what he could do down the right?
Not only did the right-back excel in attack, he remembered his bread and butter – defending.
The academy graduate was typically resilient in defence, making two tackles and completing three interceptions and two clearances.
Like many players in this Everton squad, the new manager’s arrival has breathed fresh hope into the squad with every player having their chance to make their mark on the new manager.
Kenny certainly did that on the weekend which has surely bought him another start for the Blues.
If the Scouser continues to shine under Lampard he may find himself a key figure in the team come next season with Coleman leaving and new boy Patterson still very young and yet to make his mark at the club.
In other Goodison news, Everton ace Tom Davies admits falling out of love with football this season.