I can thrive at Killie and follow pal Kamara into the big time
SAYS NIKO HAMALAINEN
His hopes of a breakthrough at Loftus Road had been dashed by a former Rangers captain and hero. But Niko Hamalainen, Kilmarnock’s new loan signing from Queens Park Rangers, is now using the example of a current ibrox star to salvage his career at Rugby Park.
The Florida-born Finland left-back hoped that this season would see him established in the Championship club’s first team after manager Mark Warburton called him back early from another loan in the MLs.
However, he knew the writing was on the wall for him when he read that Warburton had signed 32-year-old Lee Wallace to play in his position.
Wallace, frozen out at ibrox after an alleged dressing-room bust-up with interim manager Graeme Murty two seasons ago, was catapulted ahead of Hamalainen in QPR’s pecking order and he then realised he had to get away for his own good.
it was a wake-up call for the player who has made only four first-team appearances for the London club in the five years since he joined them from FC Dallas.
‘When Lee Wallace was signed, that persuaded me i should go out on loan,’ said the 22-year-old. ‘Before he even arrived, i knew i needed to play regularly somewhere.
‘Lee was good to me, though, and gave me advice about coming to scotland. initially, it was not clear to me that i would not be playing for QPR this season, especially when they recalled me from my loan with Los Angeles. ‘When that happened, i thought i would kick on because Ryan Manning was the only guy who had played left-back for them last season — and he’s a central midfielder! But i’m not fussed that it has worked out this way.
‘Lee was the Rangers captain when the manager was at ibrox, so there’s that connection. On top of that, he brings a lot of experience and he would walk into any team.’
Not that Hamalainen was given any guarantees about a place in Kilmarnock’s starting line-up from manager Angelo Alessio.
While Celtic continue to be linked with a move for Killie’s scotland left-back Greg Taylor, he remains the man in pole position to start against Aberdeen at Pittodrie today, having been an automatic pick for the italian’s predecessors Lee Clark, Lee McCulloch and steve Clarke in recent seasons.
Certainly, if Taylor stays — and
Alessio was adamant on Thursday that the 21year-old is not for sale — Hamalainen is aware he will have a job on his hands trying to displace him. But the Finnish international has confidence in his own ability and he is using the example of best friend Glen Kamara — who left Arsenal to join Dundee before earning a move to Rangers — to help him kick-start his career with club and country.
‘i know it will be hard to get in the team but i’ll just need to try and outdo him (Taylor) at training,’ he said.
‘The manager (Warburton) knows what i can bring and he told me to move here and play as many games as i can. He said that it’s a good standard and that he has faith in me.
‘He also said that he would only send me to a team with good standards and Kilmarnock seems to fit.
‘if i can get into the side here, then it would also help my international prospects.
‘i have been friendly with Glen Kamara since we played together for Finland’s Under-21 team. He came to a smaller club here with Dundee but soon got his move to Rangers. i can do the same (move to a bigger club), so this could be a stepping stone for me.’
Meanwhile, Aberdeen’s new signing Craig Bryson will return to his old stomping ground today and boss Derek Mcinnes hopes to see the midfielder kick-start his Dons career.
The former Killie and Derby favourite was brought in to replace Graeme shinnie, who moved to Pride Park in July.
But Bryson has been hampered by an ankle injury in his first few weeks at Pittodrie and he was only able to make his first start during last week’s Betfred Cup extra-time win over Dundee.
However, with a return to old club Kilmarnock today and then Ross County’s visit before the international break, Mcinnes senses a chance for the 32-yearold to get up to speed.
‘Craig is still a good bit away from peak fitness,’ said the Dons boss. ‘He is a naturally fit boy but nothing prepares you really like playing games.
‘Everyone was talking about how important a signing Bryson would be, having lost shinnie at the end of the season, because there are similarities there.
‘We have missed that ballwinning quality in midfield at times and the energy, the drive that a Bryson can bring.’