Loan watch: Defender returns from injury and makes goal-saving block in 0-0 draw
Jonjoe Kenny returned from injury and started for Schalke 04 in Sunday’s 0-0 draw with Mainz 05. The 22-year-old had been out of action with illness and an ankle problem, causing him to miss Schalke’s 0-0 draw with Hertha BSC (January 31), 1-1 draw with SC Paderborn (February 8) and DFB-Pokal win over Hertha (February 4). He’s finally back, however, and didn’t fare too badly at Mainz.
As per WhoScored, Kenny played a full 90 minutes, made 62 touches, completed 55.3% of his 38 passes, whipped in three crosses with 33% accuracy, made one interception, found a teammate with three of his 12 long balls (25%), made three clearances, blocked two shots, made two tackles and drew one foul. It wasn’t a vintage performance from the right-back, but he rescued his side with a goal-saving block in the second half.
Kenny has made 22 appearances in all competitions this season, scoring and creating three goals. He’s having a fantastic loan spell away from Everton and will hope to pick up where he left off before injury struck. Whether the England u21 international has a future at Goodison Park remains to be seen, but he’s certainly put himself in the shop window.