STEVE:GIVEUS SUBOFAFIVER

KILMARNOCK v ST MIRREN

KILMARNOCK boss Steve Clarke wants the Betfred Cup rules tweaked so bosses can make five subs in group games.

Clarke’s side kick off the domestic season tonight when they welcome newly-promoted St Mirren to Ayrshire for the Group H opener.

But the early start means Killie have played just one pre-season friendly and Clarke won’t risk Stephen O’Donnell, Greg Taylor and Iain Wilson who all didn’t finish last season until June due to international commitments.

He insists recovery and rest are vital during the summer and has called on the SPFL to let gaffers make more substitutions in the early Betfred Cup clashes to help protect players.

Clarke said: “In pre-season games you normally make five or six changes so they could incorporate that into the Cup.

“If you have five subs then you can identify the ones who need to come off and make those changes. That would be a sensible request.

“You always run the risk of picking up muscle injuries in the last 15 to 20 minutes. It is asking too much to play competitive games so early.

“That’s why I won’t play the boys who were on international duty. To ask them to come back after two and a half weeks is not right.

“You need at least four weeks of rest. ANTHONY HAGGERTY It is far from ideal in terms of a proper and structured pre-season.”

Clarke signed a new deal at Rugby Park last week as he looks to build on leading Killie to a fifth-placed finish.

And that helped convince Stuart Findlay to agree a permanent deal after two loan stints from Newcastle.

The stopper said: “Knowing how well it had gone for me here last season it was a no-brainer.”

St Mirren new boy Hayden Coulson is aiming to put the shackles on old mate Jordan Jones tonight and help the Buddies get off to a flying start.

Coulson and Jones are buddies from their Middlesbrough days when they played in the youth team that stormed to a domestic treble in 2015.

Now Boro defender Coulson, on loan with Saints for the season, wants to get tight with Killie winger Jones again – on and off the park.

The 20-year-old full-back said: “I was good friends with him at Boro.

“Since then he has come up here and smashed it. Jordan has shown what he can do up here. I’ll try my best to deal with him.” ALLAN JOHNSTON insists the return of fans’ favourite Faissal El Bakhtaoui is a huge lift for Dunfermline.

The French striker joined on a season-long loan from Dundee just hours before last night’s goal-less draw with Motherwell.

Well failed to capitalise on a handful of half chances before the break. Curtis Main had a low drive saved by Lee Robinson and Chris Cadden shot just over before Liam Donnelly headed over.

The Pars created the best chance in the 71st minute when Louis Longridge found an un-named trialist but the striker’s effort was blocked by Mark Gillespie.

El Bakhtaoui, who scored 30 goals in the Pars’ 2015-16 League One title-winning campaign, watched from the stands.

Boss Johnston said: “We need to start scoring goals but hopefully bringing in guys like Faiss will help us.

“It’s not just his goals, it’s his energy and quality and it will give us a massive lift.”

ANTHONY HAGGERTY