It’s been nothing short of a horrendous January window so far for Kilmarnock.
After losing Jordan Jones to Rangers on a pre-contract, Greg Stewart was recalled from his loan by Birmingham City.
Could Kris Boyd come to Killie’s rescue?
Stewart is bound to be a big miss. Eight goals in 16 league games is an excellent record. A return to Aberdeen would later follow, Steve Clarke claiming that there’s a “strange smell” regarding Stewart’s return to the Dons.
What must annoy Killie, aside from not arranging a pre-contract agreement, is that Stewart’s moved to a European-chasing rival. Where, upon the evidence of his statistics last season, he was previously misused.
Stewart’s spell at Aberdeen last campaign was a frustrating one. Often ushered out on the wing, he wasn’t as effective as he is through the middle. This later proven by his Killie goalscoring record.
So, is Killie’s worry a little extreme? There’s a good squad at Kilmarnock and if there’s one player in Scotland that knows something about putting the ball in the back of the net, it’s Kris Boyd.
As the SPL’s all-time top goalscorer, goals have been a common theme throughout veteran Boyd’s long and intriguing career.
A five times golden boot winner in the Scottish top tier, it’s at Rangers and his current club Kilmarnock where he’s been at his most prolific.
The likes of Chris Burke, Mikael Ndjoli, Rory McKenzie, Greg Kiltie and Rangers-bound Jordan Jones are vital. Killie’s most creative players have to provide if Boyd can replicate Greg Stewart’s form and partner Eamonn Brophy successfully.
If they can get the duo firing, there’s no reason why a European place can’t be considered the minimum that Steve Clarke’s side can achieve.