To round up the 2012-13 youth football season at Chelsea, we’re reviewing every single one of the Chelsea youngsters currently on the books who have spent time out on loan during the campaign. Here, we focus on Todd Kane.
Club(s): Preston North End, Blackburn Rovers
Appearances: 5 (Preston North End), 14 (Blackburn Rovers)
The Story
It was an eventful season for young Todd Kane, who spent most of it up in the glamorous North West of England. Initially named as Dermot Drummy’s Under-21 team captain for the season, the energetic right-back was summoned to Preston North End in November by manager Graham Westley, who was searching for cover in an injury-hit position.
He didn’t really hit it off at Deepdale, making five appearances and not earning an extended stay. He was used just as often in an attacking role as he was at the back, but it was generally a woeful season for the Lilywhites, and Westley would receive his P45 not long after Kane departed.
A more positive step materialised early in the January transfer window when Todd linked up with Blackburn Rovers. It’s odd for someone with relatively little experience to actually jump up the leagues in a season, but Rovers’ caretaker manager Gary Bowyer liked what he saw in the player who had scored against him in a Reserve Final a couple of years earlier and secured his short-term services.
He returned after new full-time manager Michael Appleton took charge but shortly before he was farcically sacked, a second deal was struck and he’s been there ever since. The team didn’t play well at all but Todd earned plaudits from supports and fans alike, whilst Bowyer – by now back in charge – said he was an infectious character who seemed to have been with the club all his life.
The Future
A new contract arrived at the back end of the season, keeping a lifelong Blues fan with his favourite team for the next few years at least. With many right-backs ahead of him in the pecking order and a fair bit of development left to do, he knows his time is yet to come, and a return to Ewood Park again next season is a deal which would make a lot of sense this summer.