22-YEAR-OLD TO PUT TOUGH CAMPAIGN BEHIND HIM
“I don’t claim to have extensive knowledge of Serie B but it is a physical league, I do know that. it will be interesting to see how that goes.
“We’re all learning and can’t be certain of anything. You can’t close the door on anyone, especially someone who is only 22 and has his best years ahead of him.
Advice
“Aaron has a lot of talent, a lot of good attributes.
Middlesbrough was a difficult loan.
“He played a lot and he had an excellent manager in Chris Wilder so he must have felt that he contributed to the team.”
Connolly readily admitted that he had received clear advice from Kenny and other Ireland management, including Keith Andrews, during his two years with the Boys In Green.
“I can’t reveal a private meeting,” added Kenny about their chats.
Meanwhile, Kenny is backing Matt Doherty to deal with the increasing competition for places in the Spurs side. Tottenham have recruited highly-rated right wing back Djed Spence from Middlesbrough for €20m, while Ivan Perisic — who usually operates on the left flank but who can play on the right — has joined on a free transfer from Inter Milan.
Last season, Doherty had made the right wing role his own having battled with Emerson Royal and Japhet Tanganga for the jersey over the course of the campaign.
The Swords man’s lingering knee injury — sustained last April and that forced him too miss Ireland’s June Nations League games — is still causing him problems, meaning that he has sat out most of his club’s preseason friendlies.
Fight
“Matt ’s shown a capacity to fight for his place. When he went in first, he’d a period where it wasn’t not working for him at Tottenham, there was talk of him moving to other clubs.
“When I was speaking to him, that was never on his mind. He was very determined for it to work there.
“Other right-backs signed, which makes it difficult. He fought hard to regain his place.
“Matt’s an important player for us. He’s only getting back and he played 60 minutes against Roma the other day.
“Tottenham play Southampton on Saturday, I’m considering going to it. We don’t know if he’ll play but he has a chance.
“It would be great to see him get a run in the team but they’ve a formidable squad. They’ve a few players there. But he’s played right and left wing back and acquitted himself very well.
“The injury came at an unfortunate time. Hopefully he’ll get a run, it would be great for us if he did.”