Honest Johnny Kenny hopes to get his Celtic career back on track after the "setback" of missing out on regular game time since his Parkhead switch.
The 19-year-old left Sligo Rovers to pen a five-year deal in the Scottish Premiership but was hampered by injury woes during his first six months in Glasgow's east end, and dropped out of the first-team picture to the B team squad in the Lowland League. The striker was then sent out on loan to Championship title hopefuls Queen's Park but failed to make his mark on Owen Coyle's side as he failed to find the net in 12 appearances - mainly coming off the bench.
His loan in Scotland's second tier was cut short allowing him to return to Northern Ireland and pick up regular game time with Shamrock Rovers - netting twice since the return to the Irish Premier Division. Having ramped up his minutes he now hopes to finally show his best to Ange Postecoglou when he reports to Lennoxtown for pre-season training.
Speaking to the Irish Independent, Kenny said: “I just needed to get back the form that I had pre going to Celtic when I was with Sligo Rovers. It would be nice to get back to that and better and push onto the next level.
"It didn’t work for the first one (loan) but we’re here now and hopefully this one will. I just need to keep doing it on the pitch and hopefully they (Celtic) will keep in touch with me.
“I was injured at the start and then trained every day with the first team, played a few B team games and played a pre-season game in the summer and that was it. That’s my aim, I want to get back there and play in the first team. That’s why I’m here.
“I played my last game (for Sligo Rovers) against Bohemians in November (2021) and then don’t think I kicked a ball properly until March or April, maybe five games in eight or nine months, it was obviously not ideal. It might have been a setback but I’m back playing now and I love it.
“I was eager to get back playing. I joined Queens Park and it just didn’t work for whatever reasons. You can blame things but you have to look at yourself too. Probably I should have done better.
“I wanted to come home, I met with Stephen Bradley (Shamrock Rovers boss) and they were the best club in the country for the last three years so I think it was a no-brainer to come. I know it wasn’t a great start for us but we’re up and running now and hopefully we can reach the heights we want to.”
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