Kane Vincent-Young was among those released by Ipswich Town last week. STUART WATSON looks back on his four years at the club.
CROSSING THE BORDER
Following relegation to League One in 2019, a trio of right-backs left the club.
Jordan Spence and Josh Emmanuel were released, while James Bree returned to parent club Aston Villa.
Meanwhile, Paul Lambert was adamant that Janoi Donacien, who he’d worked with as a young player at Aston Villa, was more of a centre-back than a full-back.
Against that backdrop, former Tottenham youngster Kane Vincent-Young – who had racked up more than 100 appearances for Colchester United – was signed from the division below for £500k.
“I’m delighted to be here - I feel like it's the perfect next step for me,” he said.
INSTANT IMPACT
Can right-backs ‘burst on the scene’? Roy Keane doesn’t think so, but no-one could argue that wasn’t the case with Vincent-Young at Ipswich. Fans instantly fell in love with his forward thrust and dazzling stepovers.
His debut came in a 5-0 win at crisis club Bolton. He then won a penalty and had a hand in another goal as Shrewsbury were beaten 3-0 at Portman Road.
A headed winner at Gillingham was quickly followed by a superb solo goal to seal a 4-1 home win against Tranmere.
Vincent-Young's eye-catching first nine starts had produced seven wins.
The long troublesome right-back position looked finally to be solved.
Town were top of the table come the end of October.
GROIN PROBLEMS & COVID CURTAILMENT
Vincent-Young was forced off just before the hour mark in a 3-1 win at Southend on October 26, 2019.
A hernia operation carried out by a specialist in Qatar was said to be a success, but come the end of November manager Paul Lambert revealed the full-back was ‘going to be out for a right long time’ due to follow-up surgery required on his adductor muscles, this time done by a specialist in London.
“I won’t lie, it has been tough,” said Vincent-Young, speaking at the end of 2019.
“Everything was going really well and it was the last thing I needed. But in this game you have to take the rough with the smooth.”
Vincent-Young finally returned to training in February. The following month the season was suspended due to Covid.
It was in that period that he struck up a heartwarming friendship with 73-year-old Town fan John Hassey as part of the club reaching out to supporters forced to shield during the pandemic.
ACHILLES HEEL
“As tragic as lockdown and the virus has been, it has given me the chance to get back up to speed,” said Vincent-Young in July 2020.
It proved, frustratyingly, to be another false dawn. After playing the first halves of pre-season games at Colchester and Tottenham, an Achilles problem flared up.
As a result (with Janoi Donacien also sidelined), Luke Chambers started the season as Town’s makeshift right-back.
Come September, Lambert said: “It’s a dangerous area, the Achilles. Kane is one we can’t force or rush, not with an injury like that.”
Lambert was replaced by Paul Cook in February. Vincent-Young finally made his first senior appearance in almost 17 months when he came on as a late sub during a 2-1 defeat at Portsmouth in March.
“I'm grateful for the support and well wishes that I have received from fans,” he said.
“From a personal point of view I want to stay fit until the end of the season and be available for selection.”
Sadly, that wasn’t the case.
In the dying moments of a 0-0 draw at Shrewsbury, Vincent-Young – making a fifth start in 18 days - landed awkwardly on his shoulder, causing a dislocation. Further surgery was required.
HOW’S YOUR LUCK?
Vincent-Young survived Cook’s ‘Demolition Man’ cull in a summer that saw 19 new players arrive.
“As one of the existing lads it’s my duty to make them feel welcome and comfortable," said Kane, in typically affable fashion.
KVY started five of the opening six league games, providing a magnificent raking crossfield diagonal pass for Macauley Bonne's thumping finish against MK Dons at Portman Road.
The following month, however, he was dropped after being given a torrid time by Dapo Afolayan in a 5-2 home defeat to Bolton.
He made a triumphant return to the side in a 4-1 win at Wycombe on November 2, setting up Wes Burns for the fourth, but then hurt his shoulder – not the same one as before – in a Papa John’s Trophy game against Colchester.
His next comeback came in the Papa John’s Trophy exit to Arsenal U21s - a game in which he scored an own goal. By the end of that week Cook had been sacked.
Caretaker boss John McGreal started Vincent-Young in three of his games at the helm. That was a horrible period that included a toxic night at Charlton (2-0 loss) and an embarrassing FA Cup replay loss at Barrow.
Then came a formation switch and Janoi Donacien making that right-side of a back three role his own.
Neverthless, the door was left ajar for Vincent-Young the following month when Matt Penney picked up an injury.
He started at left-back in a 2-1 home win against Accrington, but was then sent-off in the final minute of the subsequent 2-0 win at AFC Wimbledon (‘Burns night’). The first booking was for time-wasting at a throw (he was given ample warning), while the second was for an awkward trip.
Dominic Thompson was quickly signed on loan and Vincent-Young started just one more league game that season – a 1-1 draw at Crewe on April 23.
LIMITED OPPORTUNITIES
At the end of the 2021/22 season, McKenna was talking about Vincent-Young being an option at centre-back.
Come the start of pre-season, he was using him as a winger.
He looked electric in a 7-0 friendly win at Needham Market, scored in a 2-1 home loss to West Ham and started the final warm-up win against Southend.
When the real stuff started, however, the Donacien-Burns right-sided axis became immoveable, while Leif Davis was well backed up by Greg Leigh at left-back.
Four years with the Blues.
— Ipswich Town (@IpswichTown) May 23, 2023
All the best, KVY. 💙#itfc pic.twitter.com/j012vP4l1W
Often called upon for the cups, Vincent-Young produced a Man of the Match display at left-back in the 3-0 win at Bracknell on November 7.
“He’s been an important player for us,” insisted McKenna after that game. “I know he hasn’t started many games, but we know he can play so many different roles and we know what he can bring at different times.”
Come January, Harry Clarke and Nathan Broadhead arrived to push Vincent-Young further out the picture. He made just one sub appearance after that – coming on in the 89th minute of the 2-0 home win against Shrewsbury.
FAREWELL FRIEND
Last week, Vincent-Young was released after making 28 league starts for Ipswich over four years.
He wrote on social media: ‘My club always’.
The warmth in the farewell messages from team-mates and supporters spoke volumes of the man.
“One of the absolute best I’ve had the pleasure of sharing a dressing room with,” said Conor Chaplin. “What a human being.”
The 27-year-old, having been fit for a year, certainly shouldn’t be short of League One offers over the coming weeks.
If any L1 team needs an attacking RB/RWB, here's your man... https://t.co/pCMqx16Pca pic.twitter.com/IvcXMTmnhV
— ITFC Analytics (P) (@ITFCAnalytics) May 23, 2023
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