Killie’s Kiltie is delighted to be back in the fold at Rugby Park
Greg Kiltie’s play might come as a bit of a surprise to some of the Rangers players this afternoon.
He admits his presence in the Kilmarnock side has come as a bit of an eye-opener even to his own team-mates.
Despite being just 23, Kiltie is one of the longest-serving players in the Rugby Park squad.
He made his top-team debut seven years ago, but hasn’t been a big presence at the club over the last couple of seasons.
Injuries disrupted his progress, with loan spells at Morton and Dunfermline being used to get him back on track.
Steve Clarke led Killie to third place in 2019, but Kiltie only featured in three league matches.
He managed 10 outings last term, as well as 15 games for Dunfermline.
However, to his delight, he has hit the ground running this season, and has already played 10 times for Alex Dyer’s men.
The manager admitted having the attacker in top form at the start of a campaign was like having a new signing.
Kiltie said: “It probably feels like that to a lot of the players as well.
“They have seen me about the club, but I haven’t played as much, or I have been out on loan.
“I’m just happy to be involved, and want to continue to do well for myself and the team.
“I’ve got a one-year contract, but it’s not so much about playing for anything as making sure I am on that pitch and doing well.
“I have been here for a while, but even when I went on loan, it was never my aim to leave the club.
“I was going away to get back to where I was before the injuries.
“When you come back after an injury, you think you are ready, but you’re not.
“I was always focusing on getting back in the Killie team, even when I was away from the club.
“I’m happy to still be here.
“At the start of the season I said I wanted to get back in the team. That has gone to plan and I have started the last five games.
“The aim now is to stay there and contribute to the team. That was another aim. I didn’t just want to be in the starting XI.”
Kiltie had to be content watching most of Killie’s recent success from afar.
He racked up 41 games in season 2015-16, but it wasn’t one to remember – Killie only stayed up by winning a relegation play-off.
He went on: “You always want to be on the pitch, especially when they are winning.
“I was young and delighted to be playing four years ago, but it’s not so delightful when you go into the last game with the potential to be relegated.
“I want to be part of a successful Kilmarnock team.”
Killie have only lost one league match in seven at home to Rangers since 2016.
Today’s clash between the sides could be one of the biggest tests so far this term for Steven Gerrard’s team.
Kiltie went on: “It gives us confidence, but we also know that it is never easy and it will always be a hard game.
“We have done it before against Rangers, so it does give you confidence.
“The boys play a certain way, and that works against Rangers.
“I don’t think we have worked them out as such, but we have done well against them.
“They have had a great start to the season, and they are unbeaten.
“It speaks for itself that they have not lost a game, and not conceded many goals.
“We aim to go out there and change that – to do exactly what we’ve done before.”