MAGENNIS IN KILLIE HEAVEN AFTER GROIN HELL ALMOST FINISHED HIM
NO ONE, surely, deserves to revel in Kilmarnock’s fine start to the season more than Kyle Magennis.
The former Scotland Under-21 midfielder admits he feared for his career as a persistent groin problem failed to respond to treatment and surgery, ultimately ruining what was supposed to be a dream transfer from St Mirren to Hibs.
After managing just 13 appearances in each of the last two seasons, the Easter Road club cut their losses and released the midfielder.
Magennis was thrilled when Derek McInnes picked up the phone and invited him to Rugby Park on a free transfer.
Aggressive and full of running, he contributed to a wonderful opening day win over Rangers and was just as effective in the draw against Hearts at Tynecastle last weekend.
‘It’s difficult to sum up how tough the last couple of years were, not least because it was the same issue recurring,’ said the 24-year-old.
‘Operations, injections, nothing would work. I just couldn’t go through the whole of my career with that pain.’
Although the first operation had rid Magennis of the pain in the right side of his groin, it persisted on the other side.
‘I needed to go back in to get it sorted and in the operation they found a trapped nerve. They removed it and finally, I felt good.
‘Touch wood, I’ve not had any issues since.
‘When I knew the gaffer was interested to bring me it was something I wanted to get done as quickly as possible.
‘I spoke to other players who had worked with him and they said he was a top manager.
‘As you can see from the first two games, we have started really well.’
Today’s Viaplay Cup visitors Celtic are adapting to the methods of Brendan Rodgers. This early in the season and on Killie’s notoriously sticky artificial surface, might this be a day for an upset?
‘When you look at the first three games we’ve had — Rangers, Hearts, Celtic — that’s tough,’ says Magennis. ‘But we managed to win the first game and put in another good performance at Tynecastle last week.
‘We had a good record here at Rugby Park last year so we need to try and build on that.’