.....in the U21 he looked physically able at CB but better suited at RB in the first team. He had a decent game, threw in a couple of fine crosses - one via a sliding pull back from the bye line and the other an angled pass that just eluded both Naismith and Lukaku. Got tangled up with Jagielka for their first goal. I wonder if he's ahead of Kenny in the pecking order.
I was very impressed with him yesterday. He tackled well, gets forward well, composed on the ball. I Imagine he will have a similar trajectory to Galloway, slowly introduced at fullback before moving into a more central position.
His natural competitor is Browning. A similar age, similar position but very different route into the first team. It will be interesting to see how they both develop next to one another.
As for the Kenny question, I think he is further along than him. I think Martinez wants players to be introduced fully when they get to around age 2-21 so Kenny still has a couple of years yet. I also think he wants them to have ticked certain boxes. One of those being played say 25 competitive matches in league football. Another being shown they can adapt to his system in the under 21's.
Kenny is getting his experience and I imagine if he is playing we will look to keep him at Wigan for as long as possible. Hopefully he will fill out a bit more and be ready next summer to start to train regularly with the first team.
You do a lot of physical growing up between 16-21. Kenny is technically quite strong, and feisty but probably isn't as physically ready as Pennington is. Martinez doesn't want any passengers, and last night Pennington held his own and wasn't a passenger which was good to see.
