KILMARNOCK

IN: Laurentiu Branescu (loan; Juventus), Mohamed El Makrini (Roda JC).

OUT: Jordan Jones (Rangers), Scott Boyd, Kris Boyd, Daniel Higgins, Daniel Scally, Ross Miller.

KEY MAN: EAMONN BROPHY. With no Kris Boyd or Greg Stewart providing back-up at the top end of the park, there will be a huge reliance on Brophy to hit the ground running this season and at least match the 12 goals he scored for the club last term.

KEY ADDITION: MOHAMED EL MAKRINI. Following the departure of Jordan Jones to Rangers, Killie lost one of their most potent outlets over the last couple of seasons. El Makrini is much more defensive, which could allow the likes of Gary Dicker or Chris Burke further licence to move higher up the field without leaving space in behind.

NEW manager Angelo Alessio may have brought a bit of panache to the club but he has the unenviable task of taking control of the Rugby Park reins after Steve Clarke. The Scotsman guided Killie to a third-placed finish last term — and the Europa League qualifiers — and his successor is already under pressure having been dumped out of Europe by Welsh part-timers Connah’s Quay Nomads in the first qualifying round. Following that two-legged defeat, expectations may have considerably lowered. One thing lacking under Clarke was a cup run. Last season, Killie came up against Rangers in both cup competitions, losing 3-0 in the Betfred Cup last 16, before going down 5-0 at Ibrox in a Scottish Cup replay. If they can get a bit more luck in the draws, the Rugby Park side may hope to make more of a mark in Scotland’s knock-out competitions this time around.