Jermaine Jenas says in-demand manager will not regret his Manchester United decision

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Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Jermaine Jenas believes that Kieran McKenna has made the right decision around Manchester United this summer.

In what was his first job in football, Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna has guided his side from midtable in EFL League One to the Premier League after two superb seasons.

This outstanding performance from McKenna, who was previously on Manchester United’s coaching staff, has naturally led the Northern Irishman to be linked with some of England’s top jobs.

After Roberto De Zerbi departed Brighton & Hove Albion, Mauricio Pochettino departed Chelsea and the future of United boss Erik ten Hag remains unclear, McKenna has been linked with all three jobs.

Jenas on McKenna

With McKenna being just 38 years of age, it is certainly early on in his managerial career. Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Jermaine Jenas believes the time is not yet right for McKenna to take over at Old Trafford.

“United? Wow. I think so (too much of a step up too soon),” Jenas told talkSPORT. “I think one thing that would obviously be in his favour would be that he has been at the football club, so he has felt the weight, the fabric, he has been around the expectations of the football club.

“I would be looking at it more from a Kieran McKenna development as a manager point of view and also from Ipswich’s point of view. I think his stock is still going to be high at the end of the season, as we have seen with Vincent Kompany.

“A lot of people look at certain coaches in a certain way. I think Kieran McKenna’s stock is still going to be high regardless of what happens with Ipswich at the end of the year. So, he should stay really.”

McKenna’s loyalty

Remaining at a club who gave him his first shot in English football would not be a surprise to many, especially with the East Anglian club about to embark on their first Premier League campaign since 2002.

HITC have reported that the future of United manager ten Hag remains unclear and the Dutchman could yet remain at Old Trafford. However, the club who have been pushing the hardest for McKenna was Brighton.

We reported on Monday that Brighton were confident that they would land the Northern Irishman but this stance has now changed with the former Tottenham coach set to commit his future at Portman Road.