IT’S SO RUSHED I FEAR WE’RE DEVALUING IT
DEREK McINNES admits it’s frustrating heading into the Premier Sports Cup with Kilmarnock underdone.
The Rugby Park boss watched his side drop two points against Partick Thistle on Wednesday and knows today’s clash against Montrose is a must-win.
But with six weeks left of the transfer window, the Killie boss also knows his side is nowhere near complete – which annoys him as he doesn’t want to devalue a national cup competition.
Ahead of the trip to Links Park, the McInnes said: “I hear the part-time teams arguments, a lot of them don’t get their squad together fully until the last minute, they have got jobs and holidays to think about.
“Even for us when you’re trying to shape a squad for the season ahead, you have a lot to do, so this competition comes a bit too early for all of us.
“We don’t want to devalue it. This is an important competition in our calendar so we need to make sure we give ourselves the best chance.
“But it can test your ability to be as prepared as you need to be. I don’t think we’re as prepared as we want to be for a cup competition and you could probably say that about most teams.
“It’s the first time I’ve been involved in the group stage. Our objective was to win the group and it still is but we have to win our last two games to have a chance.”
Kyle Lafferty remains out with a back injury and with captain Chris Stokes, Scott Robinson and Blair Alston all on the treatment table, McInnes has selection headaches for today.
He said: “We still have too many players injured for my liking. It is that time of the season we are getting players ready, so we’re not the only team with bumps and bruises. We will sit with the medical department and decide who can travel.
“Hopefully we’ll get a few off the treatment table and get another couple of players in the next week or so which will help us look stronger for the Dundee United game.
“But despite that we have a squad good enough to go to Montrose and win a cup tie. We know it will be tough, they did well last season. Stewart Petrie has done a good job with them.
“In particular they are very strong at home but we know the importance of winning if we want to have a chance of going through.
“Two wins should give us a good chance of at least one of the best runner-up spots but anything less than 10 points won’t, we need to make sure we win.”
New signing Joe Wright was on trial at Hearts until last week. The defender said: “They were looking for something a bit different but I’m delighted to be at Killie and I’m excited to get going.”
Meanwhile Montrose boss Petrie joked it was nice to have longer than 39 hours to prepare as they get set for Kilmarnock.
The Gable Endies faced a short turnaround the last time the sides met and Petrie said: “It’s certainly nice to have had a wee bit longer.
“But in all seriousness this will be a big big test for us. They’re a Premiership side and an asset to that league.”