Jonjoe Kenny has gone from Everton fringes to Schalke poster boy

Kenny left Everton on loan in summer and has excelled in the Bundesliga under former Huddersfield Town boss David Wagner

How Jonjoe Kenny went from Everton fringes to Schalke poster boy

It’s fair to say more flamboyant, eye-catching players have followed Jadon Sancho’s precedent in swapping the Premier League for the Bundesliga - but few have enjoyed the level of immediate success Jonjoe Kenny has at Schalke.

His loan arrival at Schalke from Everton last summer caused little fuss, but the 23-year-old has since gone on to become the poster boy for David Wagner’s team. There may be players of a higher skill level at the Veltins Arena, but nobody embodies what the former Huddersfield Town boss is trying to do better than Kenny.

Wagner has carried much of what worked for him at Huddersfield to the Bundesliga. His Schalke team are highly intelligent in their pressing of the ball, choosing not to chase opponents all over the pitch, but instead recognising when to close them down in short, sharp bursts of energy.

Kenny has absorbed this concept quicker than most at Schalke. His drive and high fitness levels means he is able to press high on opponents while also providing his teammates with an attacking outlet down the down right side. His side might have suffered forgettable results since the Bundesliga restart, but looking at his first season as a whole, Kenny has found a home.

“It's massive that I have a coach who's been fantastic, brilliant for me. He gave me confidence from day one to go out and perform,” the 23-year-old explained in an interview given to the Bundesliga site . “When I came here, the coach knew me, I knew him. He knew my qualities, I knew his. If I'm not performing, you don't play, that's down to you.

“I've come in and started well, and the coach has given me the confidence to produce what I can on the pitch. I came here to play, but you have to perform, week in week out. I've got no time to be slacking. I have to be full on it in training every day, every week.”

Kenny has made 24 Bundesliga starts for Schalke this season, notching three assists and even scoring a stunning right-footed drive in a win against Hertha Berlin back in August.

He is one of Schalke’s most prolific crossers (0.5 per game) and is also crucial to the way they like to spring out from the back, making an average of 2.8 long passes per Bundesliga appearance.

It’s little wonder that Wagner has hinted at his desire to keep Kenny permanently beyond his season-long loan stay.

“I think you have to pick the right club [as a young English player moving abroad], at the right moment and with the right manager, where he will get you opportunities,” the former USA international told Sky Sports.

“I can only speak about Jonjoe and he has done great. He’s for sure, he’s one of the most interesting right-backs in the Bundesliga and hopefully, he can develop.”

It’s possible that Kenny might return to Everton to put what he has learned at Schalke to good use.

However, Schalke, Wagner and the Bundesliga as a whole seems to be a good fit for the right back. What his next move is will be down to Kenny and the environment that works for him.

Schalke take on Fortuna Dusseldorf this evening in a 7.30pm kick off.