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McKenna: McAteer Making Really Good Strides
Friday, 30th Jan 2026 17:32

Town manager Kieran McKenna says summer signing Kasey McAteer is making really good strides and can play a big part with the Blues over the next few years.

The 24-year-old joined Town for £12 million from Leicester City, where he had come through the academy, in the summer, signing a four-year deal.

Irish international McAteer admitted in October that he had “found it tough” following his switch, but knew “there’s more to come from myself and I believe in myself”.

Quizzed on McAteer’s progress since then, McKenna said: “I think he’s making some really good strides, both behind the scenes and with the minutes that he’s had on the pitch of late. 

“I think he’s a player that has qualities that are really, really hard to find. I have to say, he arrived late, he arrived from a rival, there’s a transfer fee and things like that.

“Lots of things that make it difficult for a player to settle at a new club without a pre-season and arriving in a season of big expectations and things like that, none of which are anything to do with Kasey.

“He’s very young, I know he’s 24, which might not seem very young, but football-wise, he’s really young. He’s a late developer who grew late, started playing regular first-team football late, but we think he’s got really good qualities. 

“He’s six foot, he’s absolutely rapid, he’s good with both feet, can go forwards and backwards, and we think he’s got potential to keep improving.

“Like many of the players who came in, or even lads who’ve been here, he didn’t quite hit the rhythm at the start of the season, which can happen to the best players in the world transferring to the best clubs in the world.
 
“But he’s stuck at it, we’re seeing growth in training and in the minutes that he’s had lately, I think he’s taken some steps forward. It’s difficult because Wes [Burns] has also come back into the group now. 
 
“Wes has the benefit of promotions here, goals here, confidence of the crowd and everyone behind him, and he’s settled into the team really well.

“But Kasey’s a player that we’ve got to keep supporting and pushing because we think he’s got a really good chance over the next few years to have a good career. 
 
“I think if you look at where Wes was, maybe at 24 he was playing right-back for Fleetwood for the next three or four years, and I think Casey’s got some of the same qualities, but is still a bit younger in terms of learning the game and learning how to use his qualities and growing into himself. 
 
“So we’re happy with how he’s progressing, we know he’s ready to contribute as and when the team needs him, and he’s someone that we think can play a part here over the next few years.”

Photo: Matchday Images



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Bazza8564 added 09:09 - Jan 31
It's the usual keyboard warrior nonsense as usual then! Slaughter him and hope he struggles.

I see a real player in him, hes got bags of pace, hes very good out of possession and he will develop.

Problem is with a lot of people on here, you think £11m is a lot of money for him, yet you expect him to already be at Semenyo's level.

ITFC buys players in the £11m bracket for a reason, he's 24 so in a year or two he will be nearing the beginning of his best, give the lad a shot and get off his back.

Ive watched Egelli struggle equally of late, but noone says a word.

Seen it so many times over the years, and 6 months ago with Clarke and Philogene. Have a bit of faith and a bit of patience, and stop being so "clever"
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atty added 09:09 - Jan 31
Encouraging words from KMc. So we could have two really decent young players on the right of the three, as we have on the left. Oh were it so up top too.
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Jugsy added 11:45 - Jan 31
Well said Bazza
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notoriousITFC added 13:26 - Jan 31
@Bazza8564 I think you’re wide of the mark. We should always give players our support and time, but McAteer was bought to help us win promotion, not to be a player in two or three years time. Of course McKenna is going to support him in the circumstances and what he has said here, is just about all he can say for a player who has offered very little impact on the pitch to date. £12m is a v. significant fee for the Championship and I don’t blame any fans for calling it what it is - unsuccessful. Had we made a series of similar signings you can quickly find yourself in a position where you’re stuck in the Champ and lost your financial power over others. It’s clear he has the qualities to be a better player, but let’s not pretend we signed him to be that player in 2 seasons time.

Re: Egeli, there is a huge difference between a 19 yr old and 24 yr old. On top of that Egeli has Impacted games and has already shown he’s a highly technical player.
3

TimmyH added 14:04 - Jan 31
Bazza - yet another person who references Philogene and Clarke in terms of needing patience, they've come good/better simply as they've dropped down a level!!...or is that a case of you being too blinkered to see the obvious?
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armchaircritic59 added 14:15 - Jan 31
Well I think it might be time for this KM debate to take a back seat. There are clearly very opposite sides being taken here, I'm one firmly in the Pro KM side. I never judge players after 8 starts, not just Kasey, that includes CA and IA too, both of those, coincidently have started 8 games too. NotoriousITFC, seems to have an inside line to KM ( the manager ) as he states he bought him to help get us promotion and not for improvement over the medium term, maybe a relation! Easiest thing to do would be to give it till the end of the season, then see which of the two viewpoints is proving right/wrong, leading one to put their hands up! I never have a problem admitting if I've got something wrong, so go for it Kasey!
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notoriousITFC added 20:28 - Jan 31
My comments aren’t a criticism of McKenna, I would say the same thing if I were manager to a youngish player who has had a tough start and must be feeling the weight of the transfer fee. But I don’t think there is much debate in saying the transfer hasn’t been a success. Established prem clubs spend £12m on future developments, not the Championship.

Also, transfers are certainly not all on McKenna, it’s a CLUB process. Something went wrong here where we’ve paid way way over the odds. Speak to a Leicester fan who is knowledgeable and they will tell to the same.

For what it’s worth - I’m 100% pro McKenna. Any echo of calling for his head is nonesense.
1

Carberry added 10:47 - Feb 1
Of course the fee is relevant because when you pay £12m for a player you want him to come into the team and make a difference - that's the idea, isn't it?
Or is he another shrewd purchase to get us out of the Championship once we get relegated from the Prem? Remember those assertions?
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Carberry added 10:50 - Feb 1
Oh and by the way, this is what McKenna did at the beginning of the season with Hirst, a big confidence boosting call. Didn't work the first time, Kieran.
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