Kenna close to recovery - June 14, 2000 Jeff Kenna's time in the footballing wilderness could be coming to and end, according to reports from his club Blackburn Rovers. The Irish international full back has been plagued by injuries for the last couple of years but he is now on the verge of a return to first-team action. Jeff injured his Achilles in an FA Cup match against Newcastle in February 1999 and had to be replaced just after half time. His next game for Blackburn came a full seven months later against Norwich at Carrow Road. At the time Blackburn were in the doldrums as far as league form was concerned but the return of Kenna seemed to galvanise them and they went on a six-match unbeaten run, scoring 12 goals and conceding only one. The FA Cup came back to haunt Jeff. He lined out against Liverpool at Anfield on January 10 of this year but only lasted 10 minutes before limping off with a relapse of his Achilles problem. He looked ready for a return with the Republic of Ireland for the US Cup but was not 100% so he withdrew from the squad. Jeff's last international came in the drawn European Championship qualifier play-off game against Turkey in Bursa, which ended 0-0. He will be glad to be in a position to push for his international place back in Mick McCarthy's team but he could have his work cut out because of the form of Stephen Carr. Jeff is the last remaining member of Blackburn Rovers' Premiership-winning squad and would be a real asset to manager Graeme Souness, who has identified full back as a "problem" position. |