Steven Schumacher drops new claims on Johnny Kenny returning to Bolton Wanderers | OneFootball

The Bolton boss didn't give much away when quizzed on a possible Johnny Kenny return

Steven Schumacher didn't give much away once again when discussing the likelihood of Johnny Kenny returning to Bolton Wanderers this summer, but did admit he would like to work with him again this season.

Bolton's campaign gets underway on Saturday with a trip to Hillsborough for a meeting with Sheffield Wednesday in the EFL Cup for the second successive year, before their seven-year Championship exile ends the week after against Preston North End.

And it's been a well-known story that Wanderers desperately need attacking reinforcement before the transfer window shuts in a little under four weeks to compete in the second tier and avoid an immediate relegation to League One.

Head coach Steven Schumacher has stated he wants two strikers and two wingers before the window's closure, and if one of those strikers could be former loanee Johnny Kenny, it'd remove any concerns about the strength, or lack thereof, at the top end of the pitch.

Steven Schumacher issues Johnny Kenny update

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Speaking on the BBC Radio Manchester call-in show ahead of the new season, Steven Schumacher was, understandably, questioned over whether Celtic frontman Kenny could make a return, after spending the latter half of last season on loan at the Toughsheet Stadium.

With the Scottish giants breaking their transfer record to bring striker Kasper Hogh in from Bodo/Glimt, there's expectation that the Irishman could be made available, but Celtic are keen on keeping as much depth in their squad amid their upcoming Champions League qualifiers.

When asked about the possibility of Kenny returning, Schumacher said: "Who knows?"

"I've spoken openly and not hid the fact that I thought Johnny did a great job for us last season. He was a real bonus for us, a plus when we signed him in January.

"He was a player that I tried to sign last summer, didn't manage to happen because Celtic needed him to stay in their squad. We managed to get him in January; he came in, made a huge impact, scored some really important goals for us, got some assists, and he's a player who I've said I would love to work with again because he was a brilliant character.

"Now, whether we can make that happen again, I'm not sure. I don't know whether we can financially afford it. I don't know whether he will be available from Celtic in whatever department, on loan or on a permanent.

"We're not sure, but as I say, he's a player I would love to work with again."

Why Bolton Wanderers fans, and Steven Schumacher, want Johnny Kenny to come back this summer

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While Bolton were starting to turn a dry spell of form around from Christmas come the end of the January transfer window, bringing Kenny in to bolster the frontline on deadline day helped solidify the Trotters' place in the League One play-offs.

The 23-year-old was a class above the rest in the third tier, especially once he got settled and into a rhythm of starting games regularly. Of his six goals, five came in consecutive appearances leading up to the final day.

Unfortunately, that final day matchup with Luton Town saw him go down with a season-ending knee injury, and he wasn't able to help Bolton in their successful play-off campaign, instead watching on from the stands as they prevailed over Stockport County at Wembley.

He was one of the many examples of Championship-ready attacking players who spent time on loan at the Toughsheet Stadium last season in League One, and with the goal to establish themselves in the second tier as quickly as possible, having Kenny in the ranks permanently would be a big boost.

Kenny hasn't featured at all for Martin O'Neill's side this year, due mainly to his recovery from the aforementioned knee injury, but he's not set to be in the plans, and wasn't included in Celtic's kit numbers this summer. It could only be a matter of time before he leaves, and Bolton will hope they're the side who benefits.

How Bolton Wanderers have reacted to recent Steven Schumacher interview

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While Bolton fans would love for their head coach to come out and say that things with Kenny are progressing and a move for the 23-year-old will be confirmed soon, they're not too down on Schumacher's comments last night.

In fact, his interview has almost reinforced what those fans feel. With so many positions needing cover between now and September 1 at the Toughsheet, it would be nonsensical to spend a hefty bit of the remaining budget on one player.

Bolton journalist Marc Iles stated that, while Kenny is the "preferred" option, "they won't leave themselves short," while one fan stated, "From his interview sounds very much like most thought; we just don’t know where we stand financially."

Meanwhile, one fan made a good point in that, on August 13, one week from today, Celtic have to submit their squad for their Champions League qualifier against LASK.

If the reason Celtic aren't openly engaging in talks to get rid of Kenny is due to the fact they want him around for depth purposes in the Champions League this month, but he isn't included in the squad, he'll be even closer to the exit door.

With just under four weeks still to go in the transfer window, Bolton can afford to be a bit patient with their main target. It may take a few more weeks, but there should still be hope that Kenny can become a permanent player come the end of the month.