Why would he be brought through slowly? He's got a significant amount of Premiership experience already.
I wouldn't say he has a significant amount of Premiership experience, 18 games ...
Consider the experience of the likes of Faye, Geremi or Butt. He could play at RB whilst Beye is away but playing there pissed him off at Arsenal.
He knows what it's all about, he has played very well in Premiership games, Enrique hasn't.