Because Kenny never came close to fulfilling his potential, and ended his professional career at such a young age, he is often seen as a "lost talent" of English football. Rob Smyth of the Guardian placed Kenny at number one in a list of Football's Lost Talents,Football's Lost Talents Guardian.co.uk 7 March 2008 while Football365.com named Kenny in seventh place in their list of Football's Wasted Talents. In a 2009 article in the Guardian Kenny's short-lived career was described as "one of the biggest wastes of talent in modern times".
