Johnny Kenny’s campaign with Bolton Wanderers has been brought to an early end after the striker suffered a serious knee injury that will require surgery…
The Celtic forward – currently on loan at the League One club – had been enjoying an impressive spell in front of goal, netting five times across his last five appearances as Bolton secured a place in the promotion play-offs.
However, the 21-year-old sustained ligament damage during the recent win against Luton Town, ruling him out for the remainder of the season.
Ligament damage ends Johnny Kenny’s eventful season
The extent of the injury had initially been kept under wraps, but Bolton manager Steven Schumacher confirmed the setback after Kenny was absent from the squad for the first-leg victory over Bradford City in the play-offs.
Kenny’s absence comes as a major blow for Bolton given the striker’s recent form and growing influence during the closing stages of the campaign.
“It’s a similar injury to the one Amario had, so it is season-ending for us, certainly,” Schumacher confirmed via Daily Record. “Six goals total for us, a few assists, he was a constant threat, not easy to play against and I spoke a few weeks ago how important he has been for us, so I can’t deny that he’s going to be a miss.”
“Sam Dalby got injured in the first week of pre-season, Mason Burstow stepped up and got off to a flyer, and we’ve had other injuries, Marcus Forss, Amario, Cordy Blackett-Taylor, two midfield players were injured for seven weeks.”
“But we have had players who have stepped up and that’s what we need now. Yes, we are going to miss Johnny Kenny, but someone else will step up and be the hero for us.”
Johnny Kenny will head back to Celtic but has shown himself to be a capable striker for the League One promotion chasers. Bolton Wanderers manager Steven Schumacher last summer tried to sign the Irish international striker on a permanent deal from Celtic but a £500k bid was rejected. Celtic were looking for double that sum and especially if Bolton do make it through the play-offs, that deal could go through in the summer.
Whether Johnny Kenny has a long term future at Celtic is doubtful, especially as we don’t know who the new manager will be and whether he sees enough in Kenny to want to keep him as part of the squad.
A parting of the ways in this instance is likely to suit all parties just fine.
Conor Spence
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