Kaine Kesler-Hayden returns to Preston North End for the first time on Tuesday night.
After a 2024/25 loan spell which saw him win Player of the Year for the Lilywhites, the defender completed a reported £3.5million – rising to £5m – move to Coventry City. The Sky Blues are top of the Championship after 19 games.
While Kesler-Hayden has made 16 appearances across all competitions for Coventry, the full-back has only managed two Championship starts – with a further two coming in the Carabao Cup.
So, what has the story been so far for the ex-Aston Villa man? Andy Turner, longstanding Sky Blues reporter for the Coventry Telegraph, gives us the lowdown on PNE’s old loan star – who played 75 minutes at Ipswich Town last weekend.
Turner told the Lancashire Post: “Yeah, it’s an interesting one with Kaine. I think that from Coventry fans’ point of view, the jury’s still out a little bit on him. It’s unfortunate for him because in the summer when he arrived, everybody assumed that Milan van Ewijk – who has been first choice for the last two or three seasons and arguably, one of the best right backs in the division – was going to leave.
“He was linked with two or three clubs, both Premier League and abroad, and everybody just assumed that Kaine was coming in as a natural replacement. Everybody thought, ‘Oh, that’s a bit of smart recruiting’ – getting him in before the other one goes out. In the end, Milan stayed and Kaine’s been a victim of that, really, and had to sort of provide backup for Milan van Ewijk, who just rarely gets injured and rarely misses a game.
“I think he missed one game through suspension and that’s it, so he’s struggled to get in the side because of that. Then, he has sort of stepped off the bench in a role that’s a bit further forward. He started on Saturday as a right winger and had that glorious headed chance, which he put wide. So, he’s sort of been a bit hit and miss. When he’s started games, he hasn’t looked as good as he has when he’s made an impact from the bench.
“But I think you have to factor in that it’s difficult for him because he’s not had a run of games. He’s just sort of coming on for little cameos here and there and not playing every week, so it’s difficult for him to get his form going and really establish himself. So it’s been a tough season so far for Kaine. He’s shown glimpses of what he can do, but I think we’re yet to see the best from him. Unless he gets a run in the side, I suppose we’re not going to really see that.”
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