Lloyd Kelly: Reunited at Last With Eddie Howe
Lloyd Kelly has had to grow up fast and trust his instincts to make it as a professional footballer. A product of the foster care system, the Newcastle defender could be forgiven for being guarded or withdrawn. Unconditional trust is a crucial part of any team dynamic, and Kelly, who can’t recall the last time he saw his mother, has good reason to be resistant to such a concept.
The Bristol-born defender, who can play both centre-half and left-back, has taken the positives from his upbringing, though, and has matured into an assured and adaptable Premier League player. Kelly credits his versatility and maturity to the fact he and his siblings had to adapt to three different foster homes throughout their childhood, and it made leaving Bournemouth to move to the other side of the country to sign for Newcastle this summer a far easier decision than it might otherwise have been.
Eddie Howe’s presence also played a major role in Kelly’s decision to move to Newcastle. The Magpies manager bought Kelly to Bournemouth in 2019, forking out £13m for the then 20-year-old. It was a show of trust that Kelly hasn’t forgotten, and with his contract running down on the south coast, a reunion with Howe seemed an obvious next step in his career.
At 25 years old, Kelly is no longer the hotly tipped young prospect who trained with Gareth Southgate’s England team in 2018, and injuries haven’t been kind to the Bristol City academy graduate. But back under the tutelage of Howe, Kelly is hoping for a fresh start.
Howe knows Kelly well from his time at Bournemouth, and as well as adding the sort of versatility that has made Dan Burn such a key part of Newcastle’s team, Kelly has been identified as a leader after captaining Bournemouth throughout the 2021/22 season.
Newcastle struggled with injuries to their backline last season and will be without centre-halves Sven Botman and Jamal Lascelles for much of the upcoming campaign after the pair suffered ACL injuries just weeks apart from each other. Kelly missed 12 games through injury last season and struggled to prove his fitness throughout his time at Bournemouth. But if Newcastle can keep him fit, then Kelly could prove to be an astute signing.
An experienced Premier League defender, capable of providing balance and solidity to Newcastle’s backline. Kelly is also confident in possession and can provide the driving runs from deep that have become a staple of so many teams’ build-up play. After missing out on Tosin Adarabioyo to Chelsea, Newcastle will be happy to have secured a deal for Kelly, who attracted interest from across Europe this summer.
Kelly is a mature and measured defender who will provide much-needed depth to Newcastle’s squad. But like so many of his new teammates, staying fit will be the primary concern for the defender as he looks to push on in his career. The Magpies are still looking to bring in another defender to cover in the absence of Botman and Lascelles. But with profit and sustainability a concern for Newcastle, they’ll be pleased to have bought in Kelly on a free transfer.
By: Sam Tabuteau / @TabuteauS
Featured Image: @GabFoligno / Serena Taylor / Newcastle