New Everton boss Sam Allardyce has paid tribute to 20-year-old defender Jonjoe Kenny.

Kenny did not make his full Everton debut until September, but was thrust into the first-team picture by David Unsworth, who was in interim charge of the Merseyside outfit following Ronald Koeman’s dismissal.

The full-back also started Allardyce’s first game as Toffees boss against Huddersfield Town at the weekend, and impressed during his team’s 2-0 success at Goodison Park.

Allardyce was full of praise for the number 43 after the match, with the former England boss branding him ‘an outstanding young man at full-back’.

Allardyce told reporters, as quoted by Everton’s official website:

“I think Jonjoe is an outstanding young man at full-back, I think his choice of ball possession is first-class for a young man, his defending is excellent.”

Kenny played a key role in Everton’s Under-23 Premier League 2 title success last season, whilst he played every minute of England’s Under-20 World Cup success in South Korea during the summer.

The full-back’s previous experience of senior first-team football came at loan spells with Wigan Athletic and Oxford United.