A Quay test for Alessio
Andy Morrison is in no doubt it could be the perfect time for Connah’s Quay Nomads to do an Italian job on Kilmarnock.
The Welsh side, who drew 0- 0 with Aberdeen in a friendly in Cork yesterday, entertain Angelo Alessio’s side in the Europa League opener a week on Thursday.
Morrison knows Killie will be heavy favourites but is hoping his Welsh parttimers can catch them cold, as their Italian gaffer tries to make his mark at Rugby Park.
He said: “Alessio will want to play his own way, put his own stamp and philosophy into the team.
“I would imagine he will totally change the shape and system they used under Steve Clarke last season although that will take time to implement.
“I have watched a lot of footage of Kilmarnock from last season and hopefully I will get to see them under the new manager before we play them.”
Morrison also thinks it is a bold move by Killie to appoint Antonio Conte’s former No.2 as he knows it is a big task to follow in the footsteps of Clarke.
The Scot claimed: “They made this appointment and see it as a forward step but time will tell because it is a tough act to follow what Steve did last year.
“It will be difficult for him to try to replicate the success Kilmarnock had last season because more often than not it is like a one-season syndrome.”
Morrison has spent his career south of the border and admits Kilmarnock was the draw he was after.
He said: “If I had to cherry pick one it would have been Killie.
“It is great for the club, players and myself and we want to test ourselves against the best.
“Aberdeen was a good test and it gives us a lot to work towards going into the Kilmarnock game.”
The Celtic keeper finished last term as first choice at Parkhead after coming in to replace Craig Gordon after the winter break.
Bain barely put a foot wrong as he collected an incredible 22 clean sheets in 33 games – but he’s still refusing to rest on his laurels.
The shot- stopper sti l l remembers being freed by Aberdeen as a kid and working with his dad while part-time at Alloa and won’t put the tools away at Parkhead.
He said: “It’s funny, I don’t think that I am established as No.1. I just go in hoping to perform the best I can and hopefully I am the one who gets to play in the upcoming games.
“I have come in with the same attitude as I had before – to try and improve as much as I can.
“Get as fit and as strong as I can and see what happens from there.
“I’m in a different situation but I keep ticking over and pushing through.”
Bain knows he can’t relax with Gordon around but he insists the glove rivals work well together. He said: “Craig is probably one of the best keepers that Scotland has produced. He definitely is one of the best.
“To work with and train with him every day is great.
“I’ve always said he’s been fantastic with me despite him not being playing.
“He’s really good for me to lean on and pick his brains about things that happen on the pitch. Of course, he will want to play and my job is to make sure that doesn’t happen.
“He fully understands that, just as I had to deal with it when he was the No.1. “Obviously, you have a mutual respect for each other in that sense.”
Bain put in the hard yards as he played par t - time at Alloa while working as a joiner.
The 28-yearold looks back on his time on the tools as an exercise in character building and the view from the other side has given him a healthy sense of perspective on life.
Bain said: “I probably couldn’t put up a shelf now!
“I was doing all the bad stuff I appreciate being here every day, working with the best players in the country.
“It’s also difficult, though, for boys who have been at Celtic for a long time.
“People say you earn a lot of cash but there’s pressure on the likes of James Forrest or Scott Brown.
“There’s focus on you and how you can play under that scrutiny for that long speaks volumes for you mentally, physically, and for how good a talent you are.”
Bain is aiming to win back the Scotland shirt he lost for the recent double- header against Cyprus and Belgium.
It said a lot about Bain’s form that most people were surprised new national boss Steve Clarke opted instead for David Marshall. The Hoops keeper admits he wi l l concentrate on performing for his club and hopefully his country will come calling again. Bain said: “I don’t know if I was su rpr ised because when Marsh got called into the squad I thought he would be playing.
“From there it was a case of doing the best that I could and if my performances in training helped him to push on then that would be the goal.
“David did wel l in the games. We got a good result against Cyprus and a good per formance a ga i nst Belgium so they would be happy with what happened.
“I have always said that I set no goals for Scotland.
“I have always focused on club football and trying to perform to the high levels of before. If I do that consistently it should stand me in good stead.” I’LL NAIL No.1 SLOT WITH BIT OF JOINERED UP THINKING