' Cardiff City player Not fit '

Bolton manager Neil Lennon takes swipe at on-loan Cardiff City defender Kevin McNaughton


Thurs 26 February 2015

By Terry Phillips

A favourite with the Bluebirds, McNaughton has struggled for game time with the Trotters this year due to hamstring problems


Bolton manager Neil Lennon has taken a verbal swipe at on-loan Cardiff City defender Kevin McNaughton and told him: “You’re not fit enough!”

Former Scottish international McNaughton, who became a favourite among Cardiff City fans after joining the club from Aberdeen in 2006, has not made a first team appearance for Bolton since October.

He has suffered from hamstring problems and Lennon says: “Kevin McNaughton is just not training to the level we want him to and what he’s required to.

“He’s not always 100 per cent fit so we just have to keep an eye on him in terms of Saturday-Wednesday-Saturday games.

“He’s not really been in our plans because Josh Vela has done so well there and we like a bit of pace and strength there in the right-back position.”



McNaughton made five Premier League appearances for Cardiff last season after returning from a loan spell at Bolton and then signed a new one year contract with Cardiff last summer.

He was then sent out on a season-long loan to Wanderers but is not part of Lennon’s plans.

There is no chance McNaughton will be back with Cardiff before his current contract runs out in the summer because he is out on a standard loan.

Bolton could send him back to Cardiff and continue to pay his wages as in the loan agreement, but he would not be available to manager Russell Slade.



McNaughton, 32, has made almost 300 first team appearances for the Bluebirds and was in the squad who earned promotion to the Premier League.

Many fans have called for McNaughton’s return because he provided a steadying influence for the Whites last season but he has struggled with hamstring problems since returning for a second spell.

He started the first three games after Lennon took charge, but has not featured at all since the 3-1 home win over Brentford on October 25.

Cardiff boss Slade has recalled striker Joe Mason from his loan spell at Bolton but there was a clause in that deal which meant the agreement could be cut short.

There was no similar clause in McNaughton’s loan deal.

Cardiff have Lee Peltier as their first choice right-back and have the option of Matthew Connolly on the right side of defence.

Does not sound like our mcnoughts does it
he was a good trainer whilst here and very fit

if he has hamstring problems how the f**k can fully train, that Lennon is an idiot

Send him back then Lennon, always good to have a utility defender on the bench.

if he has hamstring problems how the f**k can fully train, that Lennon is an idiot

got to agree

Send him back then Lennon, always good to have a utility defender on the bench.

He can't play for us this season mate.

McNaughton Not Up To Scratch


Thurs 26/02/15

Neil Lennon has, I would say you could call it, given Cardiff loanee Kevin McNaughton 'both barrels!'

Lennon has questioned the Scots application in training and that has played a part in his non involvement since October - something that looks unlikely to change after what the manager told the Bolton News....

Others are currently ahead of him, including Josh Vela, who is getting his chance under Lennon, and Oscar Threlkeld but it has been questioned as to why McNaughton isn't getting a look-in?

Since his return, on a season-long loan, hamstring injuries have hampered him but it's more a case of him 'not coming up to scratch' in training at the moment according to Lennon. He's not in his plans either from the sounds of it.

'Kevin McNaughton is just not training to the level we want him to and he`s required to. He's not always 100 per cent fit so we just have to keep an eye on him in terms of Saturday-Wednesday-Saturday games.

'He's not really been in our plans because Josh Vela has done so well there and we like a bit of pace and strength there in the right-back position.'

It is probably, in light of these comments, unlikely that the 32-year-old will play for us again isn't it?

poor management from Lennon for not keeping his players fit then. surely it would be down to not just the player but the management and coaches up in Bolton.
at the end of the day hes a championship winner and would be a good asset to Bolton when fit. i believe hes a far better fullback than Josh Vela and would love Super Kev back as cover. wonder if he will get offered a new 1 yr extension with us

Any chump can win the Scottish title managing Celtic, which Lennon proved!
I'm sure he's disappointed to have to pay a loan player who is injured, but hey thats football!
Super Kev never gives anything less than his all and can feel aggrieved at the way he has been treated, we should have never let him go there in the first place!

Id love to see kev have just one more game at least!! It would lift the crowd.