Boyd is aiming for Killie to go even
Kris Boyd loves a challenge – and that’s why he has set his sights on another top-six finish for Kilmarnock AND a Cup Final slot.
The Rugby Park veteran enjoyed a fabulous campaign last season, when, at 34, he scored more than 20 goals to take his tally to more than a century for the Ayrshire side.
He is also the third-highest post-war scorer of league goals.
Only Ally McCoist and Willie Wallace have netted more.
But personal glory is not at the forefront of Boyd’s agenda. He would give up any individual accolades to see Stevie Clarke and the Rugby Park squad thrive collectively.
Boyd told The Sunday Post: “We finished fifth in the league last season, and that was wonderful as we had rarely been in the top six in the past decade.
“But it is about moving on and setting new goals. We can’t rest on last year. It’s about earning new rewards.
“What we can do is take great heart and a level of confidence from the last nine months.
“We really put it together in February, March and April. That’s what the manager asked.
“Finishing in the top four would be quite incredible considering that Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen, Hearts and Hibs have budgets many, many times bigger than ours.
“So, if we can get into the top six and equal last season’s place, then we couldn’t be disappointed.
“We are looking to improve on our Cup runs. Last season, we reached the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup and lost out to Aberdeen on penalty-kicks. That was a sore one.
“But we need only look at Motherwell for inspiration.
“They reached both domestic Cup Finals and deserve enormous credit for doing so.
“However, they did not make the top six, which goes to show it’s hard for a club outside of Celtic and Rangers to achieve it all.
“As much as Celtic have dominated domestic football for two seasons, every team – including Kilmarnock – must believe they can stop them and win a cup.