Clarke’s legacy lives on under Alessio at Killie
Should he feel in need of reassurance about his managerial ability, Scotland boss Steve Clarke doesn’t have to look far.
His former employers, Kilmarnock, went into the international break off the back of a run that had seen them win three of their last five Premiership games, with the only defeat in the sequence coming against Celtic.
And while Clarke’s successor, Angelo Alessio, gets credited for the defensive organisation which has seen them keep clean sheets against all bar the Hoops, the players have been quick to talk of the legacy of Clarke’s time in charge.
Winger Chris Burke said: “We were third last season, and we had to make sure we maintained our standards.
“Under the previous manager, our goal was very much to try to improve – individually and collectively – year on year, and it is the same now.
“Make sure the standards are high every day, and you’ll get results.
“I can’t speak highly enough of the players, a good group, not one who steps out of line. If anyone does, they get told within the group.
“The young players learn from that, and you can see that from the way we play. We can’t get complacent.”
It is a message being hammered home by Alessio, who has focused on trying to make Killie even tougher to beat than they were under the Scotland boss.
Burke continued: “That’s what happens. The longer the manager works with the players, the more we know what’s expected of us and what he’s looking for us to do.
“Every day in training, we demand of each other, and I think that shows in how we play as a team.
“How high will we finish? It’s hard to say at the moment. We will just go quietly about our business.
“It is disrespectful to say we’re going to finish third when we’re joint sixth.
“We can’t get too far ahead of ourselves. There are good teams in this league and there will be a few upsets.
“It’s been a strange league this season, A lot of teams are getting results away from home.
“That might level off but, as I say, we will just try to get as high as we possibly can.”
Burke, who was himself capped by Scotland seven times, has been particularly pleased to see club mate, Stuart Findlay, make the step up to the international arena.
“I trust the manager who’s there ( Clarke) to push Stuart to the max, just as they did with Stephen O’donnell,” he said. “It will help him a lot. He knows the manager and he deser ves his call-up.
“He has all the attributes to play international football.
“He’s learning his trade, but he has something to offer the national side.”