Kenny out to give Celts a Goodison SPARK
Loanee looks to bring buzz back and show fans how good side is
BY THE time David Turnbull stroked home his team’s fourth goal in Paisley on Wednesday night, Celtic were able to briefly forget about the drama and disappointments that have dominated their season. A deserved victory over St Mirren — even if the 4-0 scoreline flattered Neil Lennon’s side, who scored three late goals in four minutes — momentarily took supporters back to the good old days.
Those occasions where the nine-in-a-row champions executed precise passes, clinical finishes were produced, there was a bit of grit in defence — and they actually looked like they knew what they were doing.
Celtic fans certainly do not need a reminder of how abject displays on the pitch have led to their 10-in-a-row dreams being shattered. Now it is about focusing on as many positives as they can find.
It is early days but Jonjoe Kenny’s arrival appears to be looking like one of the brighter spots. Since his loan move from Everton at the start of this month, the 23-year-old right-back has been solid.
The Liverpudlian acknowledges the ‘big fuss’ surrounding Celtic this season. Supporters may not describe their team’s collapse and subsequent 21-point distance behind Rangers in quite those same understated terms, even if the Parkhead side have two games in hand.
But Kenny wants to add some sort of spark in the months remaining and bring a ‘buzz’ back to a club which has dominated Scottish football over previous seasons.
‘I don’t think Celtic need to prove anything,’ he said ahead of today’s trip to face St Johnstone in Perth. ‘They’ve won nine league titles, nine in a row, Trebles.
‘There’s a big fuss going round but what can you expect? You’re making a big deal out of one season.
‘It wasn’t even one season — it was six months. I think, for us as a team, to the fans for the support they give to the team, we want to go out and prove to ourselves just how good we are and try to give everyone a little bit of a buzz.
‘We want to finish on a little bit of a high and that’s all we can really do right now.’
Since a 2-1 home loss to St Mirren, Celtic have won three games on the trot against Kilmarnock, Motherwell and the Buddies in Paisley, with 10 goals scored and only one conceded.
Lennon’s men will look to continue their recent positive results at McDiarmid Park today against a St Johnstone side who will have one eye on the Betfred Cup final against Livingston in a fortnight’s time.
‘You can’t forget what this team has done over the last nine seasons,’ said Kenny. ‘They have won trophies after trophies and that’s the standard that this club has set.
‘A drop in form is only natural. Things like that are going to happen in life and not everything will be perfect. We can’t forget what this club has achieved and what the players have achieved.
‘Okay, everyone has had a little bit of a dip but we can’t forget how much quality is in this team and how good they’ve been.’
Confidence is returning slowly to the Celtic dressing room, with Kenny noting: ‘It’s obviously really good right now because we’ve won three games and scored ten goals, so I think the confidence is getting better.
‘It’s normal, it’s human, that when you have a little dip, confidence goes. I’ve been there before, it does happen.
‘But that’s football. Not everything is going to be perfect all the time.
‘I think it’s just understanding that you have to rebuild the confidence and don’t get ahead of yourself. You have to take it day by day, game by game — that’s how you build yourself back up.’
Since Jeremie Frimpong left for Bayer Leverkusen, Kenny has filled the right-back position and made his debut in the 4-0 win at Rugby Park on February 2.
Celtic’s run of three-straight wins has boosted morale in the camp, with Kenny explaining it is not just the manager and his team-mates who have made him feel welcome.
‘It’s just confidence,’ he said. ‘Once you get a win after a win, it always helps.
‘Everyone at the club, from the physios, staff and chefs, has been brilliant. Speaking on behalf of what I’ve seen, the club has been outstanding and we’re always striving to be the best.’
Kenny is thankful to Lennon for trusting him in the team since his arrival from Goodison Park.
After being given his chance to play, the right-back is determined
to continue to impress his current boss. He added: ‘I can only speak on what I’ve seen since I’ve been here and the manager has been outstanding with me.
‘He has had the belief in me and given me a chance to go out and do what I’m good at. He’s given me that confidence to go out there and do the best I can.
‘I know what I can do. I had a couple of months at Everton where
I wasn’t playing, but I know what I’m all about.
‘I want to play football. That’s part and parcel of football, it’s up and down. You want to find the balance to stay in the middle and enjoy the ride. Hopefully when you get game time, you take it and you perform.’
Kenny remains grateful to former Everton and Celtic defender Alan Stubbs for helping him as he moved through the youth ranks on Merseyside. The full-back admits he did not speak to Stubbs before moving to Parkhead.
But he explained: ‘I worked with Stubbsy when I was about 16 and he had a massive influence on my career. He helped me to push on.
‘I didn’t really chat with him before I came here. I don’t think you need to have a conversation about joining Celtic. It’s a massive club worldwide, so I don’t think that conversation is needed.’
Kenny’s loan deal runs until the end of the season. Talk of a longer stay is yet to be discussed.
For now, the Englishman is enjoying the ‘physical’ nature of Scottish football.
‘Nothing has been mentioned,’ added Kenny. ‘It is pretty physical and I have loved every minute of it. I enjoy that part of the game, being physical and making challenges.’
When you have a dip, it’s normal for your confidence to go. That’s football
‘WE WANT TO FINISH ON A HIGH. THAT’S ALL WE CAN REALLY DO’