Kettlewell on 'lofty ambitions', Killie points balance & Premiership style shift

Kilmarnock manager Stuart Kettlewell has been talking to the media before the Scottish Premiership opener at home to promoted Livingston on Saturday.

Here are the key points:

• After topping their League Cup group, Kettlewell insists the next short-term target is to simply "get three points on the board" as early as possible but to keep a "consistent mindset" and "believe in what we are trying to do".

• He was reluctant to outline specific targets for the season publicly but did say "we have lofty ambitions of where we want to be" and that "goals that we all set will be difficult to obtain, but we also think achievable".

• The former Motherwell and Ross County boss insists success will be determined in three ways - "your league position, a cup run and the potential of selling a player".

• Killie had the poorest away record in the top flight last season and Kettlewell wants a better balance of results at home and on road - a "split of points as close to 50-50 as you possibly can" - adding that achieving this will make his side "competitive every week".

• He expects a different kind of challenge in the Premiership given recruitment at other clubs, with less physicality and different ideas.

• On recruitment, Kettlewell admits the departure of Corrie Ndaba does leave the squad short but an "offer was made that the club couldn't refuse" by Italian side Lecce.

• Jack Thomson is back in training but there are a couple of players with knocks that potentially may be missing this weekend.