We never really covered this at the time, but once 55 is sown up in a manner of weeks, we wonder if promising youngster Kai Kennedy will get a tonne more minutes in the first team.
His ICT loan spell over and now out at Raith till the end of the season, the formerly controversial kid has impressed in the Championship, and his ex-manager John Robertson in the highlands couldn’t be more praising of him.
Specifically, suggesting the ‘ego’ reputation was a load of piffle.
“We kept being told by one or two people that you’ve taken a handful there, that he’s got a bit of an ego, he thinks he’s better than he is, he’s a bit of a prima donna. Not the case in any way, shape or form. He was really hard-working, listened to what we said and did his best to please us in terms of his duties; never questioned anything, he was always there ready to go. It’s amazing how someone can get a reputation.”
Robertson, who worked closely with him for half a season, had no reason to lie, and it does seem like Kennedy, if there indeed was ego with him, has learned quickly and sharply the lesson of humility.
There’s not denying it – Steven Gerrard talked about ego at Auchenhowie, and he wasn’t just making it up.
There was a problem, and the manager tackled it head on, and since calling it out and being willing to let the lad go, things have changed.
At ICT Kennedy clearly bucked up his ideas and is getting on with learning the game, not making demands. As Ross Wilson said, it seems he was given a lot of bad advice, and being a young and impressionable lad this isn’t that shocking.
But Robertson saw a new version of him – one getting his head down, working hard, and his performances speak for themselves.
12 appearances at Championship level, 5 goals and assists.
Very comparable with winter target League One Rochdale star Kwadwo Baah, who will go to Manchester City this summer.
Reality is Kennedy has a major second chance, and he clearly intends to take it.
So much for bad advice.
Remember watching the Alkass Cup Final and thinking he was gonna be a proper player. Hopefully over the course of next season we see some youth coming through as we need to develop more talent like Patterson to replace some expected departures on a seasonal basis.
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