HOLT SEES HIGHER CALLING FOR CLARKE

LIVINGSTON manager Gary Holt believes Steve Clarke will be lured away from Scottish football sooner rather than later. Clarke has impressed by rejuvenating Kilmarnock since taking over last October, with the club now sitting third in the Premiership. They are just two points off leaders Rangers, and boast one of the Premiership’s best records in 2018. Holt recently played under Clarke at Kris Boyd’s testimonial, but the pair will lock horns in opposing dugouts tonight as Kilmarnock welcome Livvy to Rugby Park. ‘I can’t see him being up here for much longer,’ said Holt. ‘He’s got the credibility and credentials which would stand him in good stead anywhere. ‘He’s got a pedigree, a presence that when you walk in and he starts speaking, you know he’s talking sense. You don’t get to coach and manage at these clubs by being a fool and he’s certainly no fool. He’s a really nice man, a great coach and his record as a manager is getting even better than it was as a coach. ‘That’s something you’re delighted to see with the experience and the knowledge that he’s got.’ Livvy striker Dolly Menga returns after serving a two-match ban for headbutting Celtic’s Ryan Christie last month. ‘It’s pleasing to have Dolly back,’ Holt added. ‘Ryan Hardie’s joined in training, as well, and Lee Miller and Rafa De Vita aren’t too far away. We seem to be suddenly going from having no strikers to maybe having them all. I’d rather have that headache. ‘Dolly gives us that dimension, that power, that pace and unpredictability because at times even he doesn’t know what he’s doing, so the defenders have got no clue. ‘He knows what’s happened and it’s a blot on his copybook but we’re delighted to have him back in the fold. We’ve all done things in the heat of a game and it’s just unfortunate these days every little misdemeanour seems to get dragged up.’ Clarke, meanwhile, has told his players to forget about the league table and focus on an under-rated Livingston team. ‘There’s no point looking at the table and seeing where you can be in December,’ he said. ‘There are no prizes, the task is to concentrate on the game. ‘People keep trying to say we’re under the radar, I’m not so sure, people talk about us a lot. Livingston are definitely under the radar. They’re a good team, well organised and difficult to beat. We expect another tough game.’