International winger returns to Northern Ireland with club consent
Ben Kennedy, Stevenage’s highly rated 18-year old international winger has returned to Northern Ireland with the club's consent.
Stevenage chairman Phil Wallace said, "Sometimes we forget Ben is just 18. He returned from an operation a few months ago, went straight into the first team, then travelled to Russia captaining the Northern Ireland U19s in European qualifiers before going straight back into the team immediately on his return. It’s been physically and mentally demanding for him and he needs a break.
"Part of our responsibility in looking after these young lads who leave home to come to us at 16 is to develop the whole person, not just the footballer. Ben was, in our opinion, showing signs of physical and mental fatigue and we want to make sure we look after him.
"He’ll go home, have a few weeks with his family and we’ll take it from there. We’re desperate for his talent in our team, but we must take a long term view of our young players' future and ensure their well-being above everything else. We’ve encouraged him to take a break, have a rest and come back to help us win points when he’s back to his very best."