Mayo is relishing top flight
Kilmarnock loan star Lewis Mayo is lapping up life in the Premiership.
The 22-year-old Rangers defender joined the Ayrshire side to gain some top-level experience having had spells in the Championship with Partick Thistle and Dunfermline.
Killie’s campaign has had a bumpy start and while Mayo thinks their positive per formances haven’t always matched results, he insists he’s still getting up to speed with the jump in standard.
He said: “The games are def initely challenging. Having been on loan in the Championship, I can feel the step up in physicality, speed of the game and the level of opponent.
“It ’ s a challenge I’m enjoying and I am looking forward to for the rest of the season. As a young player you want to be ambitious and push yourself as far as you can go.
“That challenge has to excite you as a young player. Every player wants to go and cut their teeth at the highest
possible level and go on to establish themselves.”
Mayo is relaxed about his future as he will still have 12 months left to run on his Ibrox contract following the conclusion of his stint at Rugby Park.
His full focus is on helping lift Derek McInnes’ side up the Premiership table but Mayo, who has been capped at every under-age level for his country, is determined to embark upon a senior Scotland career.
Mayo added: “I’ve had the chance to come up through the ranks with the national team, so that’s the aim.
“Kilmarnock is a great opportunity to put yourself in the spotlight. Players at Kilmarnock l i ke Greg Taylor, Stuart Findlay and Stephen O’Donnell have done it before.
“And a player like Kyle Lafferty has strengths to his game that he can use to hurt you. If you switch off against him, he will punish you.
“All of the senior players tell you what’s expected. The step up in calibre demands higher standards.”