Clarke: Don’t jeer Jones

STEVE CLARKE has warned Kilmarnock fans he will take it personally if they boo Rangers-bound Jordan Jones. The Northern Ireland winger upset some in the Rugby Park support with a celebratory Tweet after signing a pre-contract that will lead to a four-year deal at Ibrox in the summer. Jones yesterday

ruled out switching to Steven Gerrard’s side this month, pledging to produce performances that can win over those he was angered in Ayrshire. And he has received firm backing from boss Clarke, who has no qualms about continuing to pick him for a Killie side who face Rangers in the Premiership next midweek after their return to action in tomorrow’s Scottish Cup tie against Forfar. ‘If the fans boo Jordan then they are booing me as well, because if I select Jordan to play for Kilmarnock then they are criticising my selection,’ said Clarke. ‘He’s trained great since he came in after the winter break. I have to pick the best team and if Jordan is part of the best team then he’ll play.’ Jones tweeted about a ‘dream come true’ after agreeing his Ibrox deal earlier this month, ending the message with #WATP. ‘The Tweet, looking back, I was probably a bit too over-excited, a bit of inexperience at the time. But it has happened, there’s nothing I can do, I can’t take it back,’ he said. ‘I’ve always tried to give my best for this club, I don’t think my commitment has been in question and knowing I’m leaving in the summer won’t change it.’ Meanwhile, Clarke is hopeful Killie could bring back Greg Stewart in a second loan deal before the end of this month. Birmingham recalled the 28-year-old after he scored eight times in a highly impressive first half of the season at Rugby Park. The English Championship club hope to sell him but Clarke believes Stewart wants to run down the remainder of his deal to become a free agent this summer. More immediately, however, Clarke feels the door isn’t closed on Stewart seeing out the current campaign back in Ayrshire. ‘It’s possible he could go somewhere else and it’s possible he could come back to us,’ he said. ‘Him and his agent are pretty sure they want to run the contract down so they get to the summer with a wide range of choices. If they want to loan him out again, we would be a good destination.’