Everton defender Jonjoe Kenny has admitted his loan spell at Celtic last season was the hardest time of his career so far.
The right-back spent last season on loan with the Scottish Premiership giants after returning from a highly-successful loan spell with Schalke the previous year.
He had hoped to establish himself in the Everton first team, but that did not prove to be the case, with manager Carlo Ancelotti electing to send him out on loan with Celtic.
He was shipped out to Celtic but would only make 16 appearances in the second half of the campaign, with his debut only coming in February 2021.
It was a tough time for him and meant he returned to Everton back at square one, and he admits he struggled with it all.
“This was really the most difficult moment of my career so far,” he told Transfermarkt.
“I left Schalke on a high and felt ready to play for Everton. But unfortunately, it didn’t turn out that way, and it wasn’t easy for me to deal with.
“I went to Celtic, another club with great history, success and an absolute winning mentality.
“The Old Firm derbies were difficult because they took place without fans. But that experience was also good for my development, I think.”
The situation has not improved for Kenny this season either. The arrival of Rafa Benitez in the summer should have given him a chance to start again, but that has not proven to be the case.
Instead, he has barely featured under the Spaniard so far, with a ten-minute appearance in a 3-0 defeat to Aston Villa and two games in the EFL Cup all he’s been afforded.
He’s spent the rest of this season sat on the bench looking on, despite Seamus Coleman’s continued issues and questions about his performances.
With his contract at Goodison Park expiring in the summer, a departure seems likely, and he admits that is something he’ll have to think about.
“I hate not being able to play, and it drives me crazy not being on the pitch at the moment,” he added.
“The only thing I can do at the moment is to give everything and keep myself at the best level.
“I’m pushing myself every day to get more game time and I’m willing to do anything to help my team on the pitch.
“If at some point this is not possible at your home club, as a professional footballer you also have to be ready to go another way for your development, to do what you love again: being on the pitch.”
