BY DARREN JOHNSTONE @CCP_Sport
Kilmarnock manager Gary Locke insists his fit-again players have handed him a major selection headache – but he could not be happier.
Captain Mark Connolly and striker Dale Carrick, who played in Tuesday’s 3-3 under-20s draw with Partick Thistle, are both available again following knee and hamstring injuries respectively.
After Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Motherwell, Locke is considering making changes to his side for the first time in four matches and he is delighted with the options he has at his disposal.
Locke, whose team travel to St Johnstone on Saturday, said: “The problem we had at the start of the season was that confidence was low and we had quite a few injuries as well.
“There is a buzz to the training now and the tempo has been lifted because just about everyone is fit.
“Everyone is desperate to play which is great to see.
“The injured lads that are coming back are all getting more training sessions under their belt.
“Mark, Kris (Boyd) and Dale all played for the 20s, so that’s great. Lee Ashcroft played too and all these lads will be looking to push for a place in the side come the weekend.
“It’s great for myself, Lee (McCulloch) and Peter (Leven), it gives you a headache you want rather than the team picking itself.
“We’re leaving one or two out that would probably expect to start. It’s never easy as a manager doing that but you can’t pick everyone. The only way we’ll get success is through the squad, not by the eleven.
“It’s all about the squad. It can be difficult at times to keep everybody happy but the boys that have been on the bench or in the stand have been great, they’ve been getting behind the team.”
