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McLean’s strong mentality has helped him flourish with Canaries
Kenny McLean is 'constantly learning' under City head coach Daniel Farke. Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd - Credit: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd
Kenny McLean’s Norwich City career could have ended before it even started, the Scot has admitted.
The midfielder suffered an ankle ligament injury in his third game as a Canaries player and missed a large portion of City’s title-winning Championship season.
His injury nightmare could have ended his shot in English football, but instead, McLean knuckled down and remains indebted to City’s head coach Daniel Farke for his development since.
The Scottish international has been a mainstay in Farke’s top-flight squad this season, starting 25 times.
McLean has cited his strong mentality as being one of the primary factors behind his improvement since joining the club.
McLean spent five months sidelined with an ankle ligament injury last season but has fought his way back into contention. Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd - Credit: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd
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“Mentality is the key thing down here. When you’ve got that it brings the best out in you. I came down, played two games and was out for five months. It was tough.
“It would have been easy for me to have packed my bags and headed back up the road,” McLean admits.
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“But I was just so desperate to do well down here. My long-term goal was to be a success in England and I feel, up to now, I’ve done well – even if there’s more to come.”
McLean has fought off significant competition to emerge in Farke’s most deployed midfield pairing this season, alongside the evergreen Alex Tettey.
Kenny McLean at the Lotus Training Centre last week as the Canaries' players started non-contact training in small groups Picture: Norwich City FC - Credit: Jason Dawson
Operating in the top flight has provided the Scottish midfielder with further education, something McLean feels he has adjusted to throughout this current campaign.
“It’s still a learning curve, I’m still improving. I’ve got so much better since joining Norwich,” he said. “At 28 I feel I’m coming into my prime. These next few years will be really big and I want to do the best I can for this club. The gaffer has been excellent for me.
“I’m always picking new stuff up. Farke is a relaxed guy but he can have his moments – he knows when we need to be told.”
The Premier League is set to return behind-closed-doors on the weekend of June 20. McLean insists City are relishing football’s resumption.
“The dates have been announced so it’s something to look forward to,” he told MailSport.
“We’ve been keeping fit, ticking over, but can now start to gel again and get our ideas back on the pitch.
“Our first game is on June 20 and we’ll be ready. We aim to give ourselves a chance of staying in this league.”
