‘We like that’ - Paul Heckingbottom on new Preston North End striker’s ’standout qualities’
He made his full debut on Tuesday.
Paul Heckingbottom has spoken highly of new Preston North End striker Johnny Kenny’s first performances for the club.
After coming on as a second-half substitute in the 2-1 win over Blackburn Rovers last Saturday, Kenny started at Watford on Tuesday night and impressed despite PNE’s 2-1 defeat.
Kenny joined North End from Celtic on Deadline Day for a fee understood to be in the region of £3m, following a successful loan spell at Bolton in the latter half of last season.
One part of the striker’s game that drew praise from fans watching the game at Vicarage Road was his confidence to take a shot on early and from range.
Kenny had five attempts at goal in Tuesday’s game, four of which were from outside the 18-yard box, with three of them needing to be blocked by Hornets’ defenders.
Heckingbottom says that Kenny’s preference to strike the ball early is something PNE have lacked previously during his time in charge.
He told the Lancashire Post: “I think Johnny, his first couple of shots were outside [the box], there was one in particular that went to the left of the goal, so right as we look at it, they both went out for corners.
“He won the first corner that we got the goal from as well from a snap shot.
“I think it's more that he looks to take the shots early when he's in that final third - left foot, right foot, he looks to shoot.
“That's something we've probably been lacking and it's something that, watching him for Celtic, watching him at Bolton last year, watching him for Ireland, I think that is one of his standout qualities.
“He thinks about trying to score goals, he thinks about trying to get across defenders and yeah, we like that about him.”