Jonjoe Kenny hopes to return stronger

Everton Academy graduate Jonjoe Kenny says he hopes to return to Goodison Park as a better player after a season on loan to German side Schalke 04.

Kenny, who has made 40 appearances for the Toffees, will spend the whole of next season in Germany aiming to recreate the success that other English imports have had in the Bundesliga, including Jadon Sancho and team-mate Ademola Lookman.

Schalke are managed by former Huddersfield boss David Wagner and Kenny, currently on England Under-21 duty, says the chance to play in Germany is a great opportunity to further his career. He told Everton’s official website: “I think I will go there and learn a lot about myself and I want to come back a better player.

“Schalke has a huge fanbase and history and a fantastic manager in David Wagner who I know from the Premier League. “He was another massive reason for me to go there. He came across as a great manager in England with what he did taking Huddersfield into the Premier League.”

Kenny remained on the substitutes’ bench as England Under-21s lost to France earlier this week and need to win their remaining group games against Romania and Croatia to stand a chance of getting through to the European Championship semi-finals.

Kenny has been at Goodison Park since 2014, having made 40 appearances for the first team so far. He also spent time on loan at Wigan and Oxford United during the 2015-16 season.

Having missed out on European football for next season, Everton do some travelling in pre-season instead, playing in Nairobi and Switzerland before games against Wigan Athletic and Werder Bremen. They then begin the new Premier League campaign away to Crystal Palace on August 10.

Everton are at 2.75 to start off with a win with the Eagles 2.63 and the draw 3.30. The Toffees are at 6.00 to achieve a top-six position in the Premier League.