Rogers finds peace of mind with Killie contract

KILMARNOCK’S summer signing Danny Rogers hopes to put all his anxiety behind him on Saturday when the Scottish Premiership season starts.

The 26-year-old Irishman, who could make his debut this afternoon, admitted an uncertain future had been compounded by the coronavirus pandemic.

“It has been hard,” said Rogers, who signed a one-year deal with Killie this week after leaving Aberdeen earlier this summer. “It’s caused a lot of anxiety and stuff because I’ve been at Aberdeen for nine years, I’ve never had to go and find a new club and I was a bit worried for a while.”

The Scottish Premiership will kick-off behind closed doors and Rogers, who has had previous loan spells at Dumbarton, Falkirk, St Mirren and Morton, said every club is heading into the unknown.

He said: “I can’t wait but I’m also a bit, not worried, I’m just a bit kind of ‘what is it going to be like? Easter Road and no fans.’ It’s a big stadium and playing there with no fans. It’s so different to play when there’s no fans there.

“Will it take the pressure off some people and they’ll be able to perform better? They could do that, or it could go the other way.”

Kilmarnock will start the season with two new goalkeepers following the departures of Laurentiu Branescu and Jan Koprivec during the close season.

Jake Eastwood arrived at Rugby Park on Thursday on a six-month loan from

Sheffield United and will vie with Rogers for the the number one jersey. “I’ve been in Scotland long enough now,” Rogers, left, added. “I’ve done the Championship, played a few games in the Premiership, I want to be recognised now as a Premiership goalkeeper.” Killie boss Alex Dyer said the club’s main target this season is to retain their top-flight status, but Rogers has set his sights higher.

“As a team, we’ll be aiming for the top six,” he added. “Kilmarnock is a big club. When you’re here you realise how big it is.

“So we’ll be aiming for the top six, but it’s very uncertain [times], you don’t know.”

Meanwhile, midfielder Aaron Tshibola yesterday signed for the Ayrshire club for the third time after the 25-year-old put pen to paper on a one-year contract at Rugby Park.

Ken Millar