Town boss Kieran McKenna says January signing Jaden Philogene is a strong option on the right but says the 23-year-old is also capable of playing on the left.

Philogene, who joined the Blues from Aston Villa for an initial £20 million in January, bagged his fourth England U21s goal in the friendly victory over Portugal last week, cutting in from the left and curling a low right-footed shot into the corner of the net.

So far, most of his football for Town has come on the right with the Blues short on numbers in that area after Chiedozie Ogbene and Wes Burns suffered long-term injuries.

“I think in the long term, he's definitely someone who can do both [the left and the right] and that's part of the idea with Jaden coming here, which is that he's a player who can develop in both,” McKenna said.

“He did both last year for Hull as well and for a right-footer, playing on the right opens up certain things a little bit easier. It's easier to go outside, cross, maybe shoot on the outside. Playing on the left makes it a little bit easier for certain things.

“Certainly, it's the case at the moment that we're short of right-sided options. After Jaden arrived was when we lost Wes for the season, so that's made us a lot lighter on the right and heavier on the left. 

“It's not impossible that he'll play some minutes on the left, as he has already, but I think he's certainly a strong option for us on the right at the moment and that's where the biggest area of need is with the squad at the moment.”

Photo: Matchday Images

Leejames99 added 17:48 - Mar 31 What's he on about? We aren't weak on right Hutchinson is fit and plays there so does Phillogene and Enciso can. Burns is hardly known as a wing wizard. He means Philligene gets back quicker so he can play that system to play Davis. He can play Hutchinson or Phillogene on right Encisco or Broadhead in 10 and J Clarke or Phillogene on left, we are not short in brilliant attackers but he he won't drop Davis so everyone plays out of position. Wes Burns got his injury vs Liverpool, window was still open if he was that worried he could of bought another right sided player like Whitaker it's just excuses.

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Westover added 17:58 - Mar 31 Philogene is a much better player on the left as he proved in the 20 minutes he played for the England under 21s.
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parhamblue added 19:54 - Mar 31 When he spins, though, he's doing it with the ball.
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Town1Inter0 added 20:14 - Mar 31 How about Townsend to start when we need to be solid, then Davis as an impact sub, if we need to chase the game?
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41826 added 20:47 - Mar 31 Great comments by Leejames99
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TimmyH added 21:32 - Mar 31 I wouldn't say Philogene was 'strong'...he needs to hit the weights in the off season, I said he looked underwhelming before he came here and still does.
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AbujaBlue added 10:58 - Apr 1 "I think in the long term" This is a key part of McKenna's quote that some are overlooking.
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philpott2 added 12:06 - Apr 1 Town1Inter0 My thoughts entirely. Davis and Muric have been our two biggest weaknesses throughout the season. Others have had the odd poor game. And the team as a whole has completely underperformed on occasion too (sadly, apart from the Chelsea home game, the lack lustre 'going through the motions' performances have coincided with when I was successful in getting hold of tickets!). Philogene, like J Clarke need to start getting shots away rather than lose the ball and promising attacks fizzle out 95% of the times they have the ball in the final third.....

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Linkboy13 added 14:55 - Apr 1 Philogene and Clarke will always be championship players im afraid.
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Leejames99 added 20:57 - Apr 1 Muric wasn't a weakness, 5 mistakes, but 69 SOT saves still 13th in that table - Walton and Palmer saved 34 between them. 12 points gained with Muic in goal and 27 conceeded, 5 points gained and 27 conceeded with Palmer and Walton in goal and counting
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