Beware the predator as Boyd lines up his 200th league goal
Jefferies and Smith pay tribute to the Rangers and Kilmarnock strike machine
KRIS BOYD, a striker who undoubtedly divides opinion in Scottish football, is poised to make history on Sunday by becoming only the fifth player since the Second World War to score 200 top-flight league goals.
However, should he achieve this remarkable milestone against Aberdeen he will truly be classed as one of the game’s greats – according to his former manager Jim Jefferies and Kilmarnock captain Stevie Smith.
Boyd’s goal last Saturday at Dens Park took him to 199 Premier League and Premiership goals for Kilmarnock and Rangers.
Only Ally McCoist (260), Willie Wallace (224), Joe McBride (217) and Jimmy Wardhaugh (211) have scored more at the top level.
If he scores twice against Aberdeen he will also become the first player to score 100 top-flight league goals for two clubs.
Incredibly Boyd scored 101 top-flight goals for Rangers in 143 appearances – and 25 of them were as a substitute.
Now he has netted 98 for Killie in 246 matches that include 70 substitute appearances.
Jefferies (inset left) said: “It doesn’t surprise me because he is still a predator. Bobby Williamson had introduced him to the first team but he started to become more involved after I took over.
“Of course, like all young players his form could dip but we felt no matter how he was playing he was always liable to get you a goal.
“We would sit there thinking ‘we need to take him off’ but then he would grab a goal out of nothing.
“He was also a great character – although he could be a little wild at times. But what a finisher and when he gets the 200 there will be no-one happier than me.”
Jefferies also revealed that the sale of Boyd to Rangers for around £400,000 in January 2006 kept Killie afloat.
He said: “I remember when Jamie Moffat left the club and Michael Johnson came in we knew we had to sell Boyd to raise the necessary funds.
“Rangers were keen and we ended up getting a bit more money than we thought and that was key to the business plan so he didn’t just help us on the park.
“The sale of Kris effectively helped us to survive.
“He was fantastic for me and Billy Brown and of course that’s why he got the move to Ibrox.
“I remember one day at Livingston this ball came over the halfway line and it wasn’t an easy one to take because the ball bounced awkwardly and I thought ‘he’s not going to shoot from here’.
“And the next thing he smashed one into the top corner from 35 yards.
“His record is phenomenal really and I knew when he went to Rangers in 2006 that he would score a bundle for them.
“He was going to a team that were making a lot of chances and he certainly did the business.
“It’s quite simple really, if you create enough chances for Boydie he will score regularly.”
Killie captain Stevie Smith believes Boyd also deserves to be classed as one of the true greats when he shoots through the 200 barrier. His style has divided opinion but Smith insists you can’t argue with his record.
Smith (inset right), who also played with the striker at Rangers and Portland Timbers, said: “I don’t think there is any doubt that he should he held in the highest esteem.
“He will become a legend when he gets the 200th goal but I reckon he is one already.
“The amount of times he scores crucial goals and match-winners is frightening. I hope he does it on Sunday – live on TV. It’s the right setting for a man of his talents.” Jefferies feels there is time to really set a mark – even if McCoist’s unbelievable total is probably too much to ask for the Kilmarnock frontman. Jefferies added: “The thing is he is only 33. “So if Lee Clark still thinks he can do a job he could be banging in the goals for another couple of seasons at least. Ally McCoist’s record might be beyond him – but he must have a decent chance of