Killie are braced for interest in young star Watson

KILMARNOCK boss Derek Mcinnes expects offers for PFA Scotland young player of the year David Watson.

The 19-year-old midfielder came through the Killie academy, helping the club to fourth place in the cinch Premiership and European football next season.

Watson came out on top of a shortlist which included Motherwell’s Lennon Miller, Dundee midfielder Lyall Cameron and Rangers winger Ross Mccausland to become the first non-old Firm player to win the award voted by his peers since Scotland captain Andy Robertson was chosen when at Dundee United in 2014.

Mcinnes said: “Is it not just brilliant? What a story it is.

“A lot of managers speak to me about him, people on the street, supporters from other clubs, they always make reference to David Watson.

“He is a credit to his family, he is their boy, but we feel that he is ours at the club, he has been around the club for so long.

“I think we should expect speculation about Davie, we should expect clubs to be more than aware of him, bigger clubs than us. That’s the way it goes. We would be surprised if there wasn’t.

“He has been a fantastic story for us, he is from the academy, a real flagship player for that.

“He is only going to get better. He was in good company with the nominees and to come out on top is fantastic for him.”

Ahead of the trip to fifth-placed St Mirren on Saturday, Mcinnes revealed that midfielder Brad Lyons is out for the rest of the season with a hamstring injury picked up at Ibrox last weekend.

Attacker Greg Stewart has returned to training this week after his hernia operation and is in contention while James Balagizi could return from a knee issue.

Midfielder Kyle Magennis remains out long-term while defender Joe Wright is suspended.