Clark confident to get the best out of Sammon

LEE Clark feels Kilmarnock can help Conor Sammon flourish again after taking the striker back to Rugby Park at the second time of asking.

Sammon joined Killie on loan from Hearts six months after Clark failed to lure him back to Ayrshire.

The Irishman, who left Kilmarnock for then-Premier League side Wigan in a big-money deal six years ago, scored twice in 26 games for Hearts and was deemed surplus to requirements by new Tynecastle head coach Ian Cathro.

But Clark feels the welcoming environment will bring out the best in the 30-year-old, whose 18 goals in 27 Killie appearances during the 2010-11 season represented the most fruitful period of his career.

The Killie boss said of the Dundee United signing target: “He was on my wish list in the summer. He decided to go to Hearts but we got him eventually.

“We believe we can get him flourishing again in terms of goals. I have always admired his work ethic, his attitude and application.

“That fits in with what we are trying to create in terms of a hightempo game and we feel he will come and score plenty of goals.

“The fact he is extremely popular with the supporters was a big factor in the move as well. They are getting one of their old heroes back and, hopefully, we can rekindle those days he had.”

Clark also signed 19-year-old Charlton forward Josh Umerah on Tuesday to help compensate for the loss of top goalscorer Souleymane Coulibaly, who joined Egyptian side Al Ahly in a £750,000 move.

He said. “If Souleymane hadn’t have left, I would have wanted one, and Souleymane left so I wanted two and we have two very good signings.”

Sean Dillon