Kilmarnock

Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland

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Monday's Dundee derby grabbed the headlines when the Scottish Cup fourth-round draw was made, but there are two other all-Premiership ties before the city rivals do battle for the final spot in the last 16, including holders Celtic hosting Kilmarnock on Saturday.

Brendan Rodgers' side will be hot favourites given the runaway league leaders have not lost in 28 home games - 16 of them this season.

If ninth-placed Kilmarnock are to emulate Hearts' win at Celtic Park in December 2023, they will have to do what they have failed to do in their latest three meetings - all defeats with the loss of 11 goals - and that is score one of their own.

They did draw 1-1 at Celtic Park in the game before that - and won 2-1 at Rugby Park immediately before that too - so Derek McInnes' side know it is possible despite the odds but will have to turn around form that has led to one win and three blank sheets in their latest four outings.

Read Scottish Cup preview in full.

Kilmarnock have rejected a six-figure bid for 27-year-old winger Danny Armstrong, who is out of contract in the summer after rejecting a new contract. (Scottish Sun), external

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip in full.

We asked Kilmarnock fans for their views on the loan signing of Scotland international and Liverpool right-back Calvin Ramsay.

Here's some of their views...

Amy: A fantastic signing! With Scotland's dearth of right-back options this is a great opportunity for Calvin to get back into the squad by helping Killie climb the table.

David: Excellent signing. This is a credible statement of intent for the club. It will be interesting to see the calibre of new players joining in January. Attention now turns to a striker - perhaps another raid of Liverpool's talent pool.

Steven: With the long-term absence of Stuart Findlay limiting Derek McInnes' defensive options, the signing of young Ramsay is a welcome addition to the squad. With Corrie Ndaba on the left, big Joe Wright and Lewis Mayo in the centre, and Calvin on the right, the back four will be more balanced. I just hope Calvin can stay fit.

Jon: Calvin has been unlucky with injuries since he moved to Liverpool, but you can see his quality when fit. Hopefully he can stay fit for the rest of the season and help push us up the table to a top-six place.

Iain: Best signing in Scotland so far. Great but of business by Derek McInnes and the club.

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Manager Derek McInnes hopes to rediscover the qualities that earned Calvin Ramsay a move to Liverpool during the right-back's loan at Kilmarnock.

After breaking through at Aberdeen, a rapid rise resulted in the 21-year-old making the move to Anfield in 2022.

But the defender has endured a challenging time at Liverpool, making just two appearances and spending time on loan at Preston, Bolton and Wigan.

McInnes brought Ramsay in to train with the Aberdeen first team when he was manager at Pittodrie and he always believed Ramsay was a "young, talented prospect" with a "big reach" in the game.

The Rugby Park boss is sure the right-back will bring "pace, quality and confidence" to Kilmarnock and feels that his job for the next few months is to "find the boy we all know is in there".

"In all honesty it's not gone as well as he, or Liverpool, would've expected," McInnes said of Ramsay's move to Merseyside.

"If you look at it forensically, there are a lot of different reasons for that. What we and Liverpool feel is that he should work with somebody he knows, get back to basics and have a really successful loan.

"What we're getting is a really attacking, raiding right-back. Hopefully Calvin will get to go back to Liverpool on the back of playing a lot of games having enjoyed a loan spell."

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes has been speaking to the media prior to Saturday's Scottish Cup trip to Celtic.

Here are the key lines:

• McInnes feels there's no reason why Kilmarnock can't knock Celtic out this weekend, adding "it wouldn't be the biggest shock in the world" given his team were "the fourth best in the country last season".

• He accepts his side will have to "use everything we've got" to get the better of Brendan Rodgers' side but admits he's looking forward to "having a wrestle with them".

• The Killie boss expressed his surprise that Celtic "were not as confident with their defensive work" in Wednesday's 3-3 draw at Dundee.

• McInnes wearily admitted that he's "still looking for a striker" in this transfer window. He says it is one of the hardest positions to recruit in any window, but especially in January.

• On new arrival Calvin Ramsay, who McInnes brought in to train with the Aberdeen first team when he was manager at Pittodrie, the Killie boss said he's "very excited" to have the Liverpool right-back at Rugby Park.

• McInnes adds that he always believed Ramsay was a "young, talented prospect" with a "big reach" in the game.

• He is sure Ramsay will bring "pace, quality and confidence" to Kilmarnock and that his job as his manager for the next few months is to "find the boy we all know is in there".

Sandy Armour
Fan writer

Managers always tell us the festive period separates the wheat from the chaff and when we get into January, the teams should have a good idea of where their season is heading.

I'd say that is true the vast majority of the time, however this season appears to be the exception to the rule.

The league is extremely tight, with seven points separating the teams from fifth to eleventh.

St Johnstone have got themselves detached at the bottom and it will be difficult, though far from impossible, for them to escape.

Killie had a bit of a mixed bag through December and the injuries to two strikers forced the manager to rethink his transfer window business.

The arrival of Calvin Ramsay from Liverpool looks very positive if he can stay injury free, however we urgently need some goal-scoring options up front.

We get a break from league business this weekend as we travel to Parkhead for what could be termed a tricky tie.

There's no pressure on us so let's just give it a go and see if it's our lucky day.

Sandy Armour is editor of The Killie Hippo fanzine

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When Kilmarnock announced Calvin Ramsay, Derek McInnes thanked Liverpool. He might want to thank Matty Kennedy too.

The on-loan Liverpool right-back joined the Rugby Park club until the end of the season and revealed a chat with former Aberdeen team-mate Kennedy played a part in his decision.

Ramsay was at Pittodre when McInnes was manager and trained with the first-team as a youngster, and he's kept in touch with a few former Dons who now play for Killie.

"I remember Derek McInnes from Aberdeen, Paul Sheerin gave me my debut, they're top coaches," the 21-year-old told club media.

"I know a lot of the boys, Matty [Kennedy], Marley [Watkins], I could go through almost half of the dressing room.

"I spoke to Matty a few days ago. He gave me a phone call and just went through what the club's like, how the manager works and just said it's a great place to play.

"Hopefully when I'm playing week in, week out, I can get back to really enjoying my football and playing my best football as well.

"Having relationships with some of the lads is a massive part of it. There's always a settling in period at any new club but knowing so many of the boys, it makes it easier to settle in."

Killie fans, Derek McInnes has dipped into his old contact book and dialled Calvin Ramsay's number. The young left-back accepted his call.

The Scotland international has switched Anfield for Rugby Park until the end of the season, what do you make of the move?

Give us your take on his loan move from Liverpool here.

Kilmarnock are set to win the race for Liverpool's Calvin Ramsay, with the 21-year-old right-back available on loan after being recalled from a spell with Wigan. (Scottish Sun)

Read the rest of Monday's gossip.

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Oli Bainbridge's Kilmarnock loan spell has been cut short after he was recalled by Sunderland.

The 19-year-old defender moved to Rugby Park on a season-long deal in the summer but has made just nine appearances, including only two starts.

Bainbridge's last start for Killie came in the away win over Tromso in a Conference League play-off in mid-August and his parent club are now considering the "next steps" in his development.

Sunderland academy manager Robin Nicholls told the Black Cats website: "The time with Kilmarnock has been excellent for Oli.

"It was an incredibly difficult challenge for him to go to such a big club for his first loan but we have been really impressed with how he has faced it.

"He returns with the experience of having played in a European competition, faced Celtic and Rangers in front of almost 60,000 and 45,000 spectators respectively, and the general challenges of integrating into a new squad and new area of the UK."

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Hearts have held talks with Kilmarnock winger Danny Armstrong, 27, who is on course to be a free agent at the end of the season. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription), external

Read Friday's Scottish gossip

We asked for your thoughts after Kilmarnock played out a goalless draw with Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership.

Here's what you had to say:

David: Overall a positive performance which only lacked a goal and a bit more composure from our strikers. Yet again poor inconsistent refereeing - stop-start game which wasn't allowed to flow by the referee. Recruitment is a priority now given news on Kyle Vassell and Innes Cameron.

Anna: We couldn't put one chance away, but not for lack of effort. Playing one up front didn't work, it would have been better to start with Bobby Wales and Bruce Anderson instead of Marley Watkins who's just back from injury. We missed what Matty Kennedy gives us, as for Danny Armstrong I say sell him because he's clearly not doing it for us.

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• Kilmarnock have attempted 494 passes in this game, their highest total in a single match in the Premiership this season.

• Kilmarnock have failed to score in 9 of their 23 games, no team has failed to do so more often in the Premiership this season.

Watch the best of the action from Rugby Park as Kilmarnock fail to find a way past Motherwell. (UK users only)

Kilmarnock missed the chance to move into the Scottish Premiership top six as they were held to a goalless draw by Motherwell at Rugby Park.

The home side dominated for most of the match and passed up a host of opportunities to put away a side whose best openings came against the run of play.

Let us know your thoughts on Kilmarnock's performance.

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Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes: "We've played worse and won games. I thought we were terrific, it's hard to be critical. But it's our job to win games and find a way to score a goal.

"But we have a combination of the offside goal, the crossbar, good blocks and us being a bit rushed at times.

"You could feel - not the anxiety - but we just needed to stay calm. We got plenty of bodies in the box and set play opportunities. You can be critical from a manager's point of view in terms of how we can make more of those opportunities.

"But in terms of how we set about the task, it was one-way traffic. Draws should feel like defeats at home. I've always felt that since we came to Rugby Park, and it's not a bad thing draws feel that way.

"It does feel like there was so much more to get from that game.

"I would rather play rotten and get a scrappy 1-0 win. That's the way it is."

McInnes says Kyle Vassell is out for two months with a ligament tear and Innes Cameron has torn his hamstring and will be out for seven to eight weeks.

As a result the Killie boss says his priority his to bring in a striker this month, having previously been looking for defensive cover.

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Kilmarnock have confirmed strikers Kyle Vassell and Innes Cameron are facing two months out following scans on recent injuries.

Captain Vassell was substituted in the first half of the Rugby Park side's victory at home to St Mirren on 2 January.

And Cameron had to be removed early on in Sunday's defeat to Ross County.

The double blow limits the attacking options for Derek McInnes, whose side passed up a number of clear-cut chances in Wednesday's goalless draw with Motherwell.

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Derek McInnes bemoaned the lack of attacking thrust from his side in the defeat to Ross County, and while they looked far more dangerous and created numerous chances against Motherwell, there is still a lingering sense they are lacking an out-and-out goalscorer.

Murray was once again a threat throughout, getting in behind the defence, creating openings for himself and his team-mates.

Those chances all went unconverted and this felt like a big opportunity missed for Killie to advance their top-six challenge.

Proven top-flight goalscorers certainly don't come cheap, but with injuries to Kyle Vassell and Innes Cameron, McInnes may well be trying to unearth a gem in the transfer market between now and the end of the month.

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Former Scotland striker Lee Miller has backed Kilmarnock winger Danny Armstrong to rediscover his best form amid speculation of a move away from Rugby Park.

Manager Derek McInnes has "accepted" Armstrong will leave in the summer when his contract expires, but said last month there had been no contact from fellow Premiership club Hearts amid reported interest from Tynecastle.

The 27-year-old had 23 goal contributions last season, but is yet to score this term in 25 appearances, although he has chipped in with five assists.

Miller says McInnes must unlock Armstrong's ability while he is still in blue and white if Killie are to climb the league table.

"He is a top talent, Armstrong, and he will look to progress and go to bigger and better things, no disrespect to Kilmarnock," Miller told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"But at the end of the day, he needs to start performing for Kilmarnock, and McInnes knows that.

"He probably understands and realises that he won't have Armstrong next season, so he needs to get the best out of him. And Armstrong will know that himself, so he's a threat. If he plays, he's a threat.

"His deliveries and his goal contributions haven't been great but he'll look to turn that around."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.

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Defender Joe Wright has urged his Kilmarnock team-mates to put Sunday's dispiriting defeat against Ross County behind them quickly - because they need to prove they are not a one-season wonder.

Killie defied their relatively small playing budget to finish fourth in the Scottish Premiership last season and qualify for Europe.

They had won three successive home games before facing County and could have moved into the top six with a victory but produced one of their worst displays of the season to lose 1-0 and instead fall to 10th.

"It was obviously good to achieve something in one of the seasons I've been here, but it can't be just one season," the 29-year-old said.

"We can't be known for arriving in the top six once. We want to do it year in, year out.

"It was a sloppy game on Sunday. There was nothing really between the two teams but we lost a late goal and weren't really our usual threat.

"We probably didn't do the basics well enough, which is something we are usually really good at."

Wright is poised to make his 100th appearance for the club at home to Motherwell on Wednesday - and is grateful to have got his career back on track in Ayrshire.

The former Doncaster defender joined Killie in the summer of 2022 after 12 months out of the game through injury.

"Coming here on the back of a bad injury, with quite a bit of uncertainty because of that injury, I'm really happy to rack up 100 games in quite a short period of time," said the former Wales Under-21 centre-back.

"I wouldn't say it has exceeded my expectations because I didn't have any expectations.

"To come here and, in the main, play every game I've been available for – I'm delighted with that."

• Kilmarnock have won three of their past four home league games against Motherwell (D1) since a 1-0 defeat in February 2021.

• Motherwell have only suffered one defeat in their past seven league meetings with Kilmarnock (W2 D4), going down 1-0 in November 2023.

• Kilmarnock have won their past two midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) league games, last winning three such matches in a row in the Scottish Premiership in December 2018/January 2019 – a run which included a 1-0 win over Motherwell.

• Motherwell have lost four of their past five away league games (W1), including their past two. Not since November 2023 have they lost three on the bounce on their travels in the league – the third game of which was at Kilmarnock (1-0).

• In his managerial career, Derek McInnes has only won more Scottish top-flight matches against his current club Kilmarnock (24) than he has against Motherwell (20).

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Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes admits injuries to Kyle Vassell and Innes Cameron may prompt him to sign a new striker in the January window.

Captain Vassell went off with a shin problem against St Mirren on Thursday, while Cameron suffered a suspected hamstring injury just three minutes into Sunday's defeat at home to Ross County, with both set to be scanned this week.

Before Wednesday's crunch match against top-six rivals Motherwell, McInnes hinted that Killie may also be in the market for a defender, with centre-back Stuart Findlay out for the majority of the season with severe ligament damage.

He said: "We could do with good fortune on Vassell's scan. The X-ray was clear but we need further investigation to see if more is shown up. He's still in pain, he's still in a boot.

"Innes has been doing well but if it's hamstring, then we would naturally look at the forward areas as we are short there. We lacked a bit of presence against Ross County.

"With Stuart Findlay's injury, we were maybe looking at a defensive option to bring in.

"If we can get good news on Vassell and Cameron, then it might not be as pressing to get someone in at the top end.

"If it's bad news then our focus might need to go there. Let's wait and see what we are dealing with first."

With Killie not in league action again for over two weeks following Wednesday's game, McInnes is desperate for his side to bounce back from their surprise defeat to County when they host a Motherwell side who sit six points ahead of them in their quest to reach the top six.

He added: "This is our last league game until January 25. That's a long wait for us.

"We had this opportunity to go into the top six and we didn't take it. It's very tight with five or six teams and if you can get a run, three or four wins from five, it helps.

"We are at home and it's up to us, regardless of who is available, to have that laser focus and do what we can to get a result."

The Killie boss also revealed that Matty Kennedy is being sent to see a specialist as he looks to get to the bottom of a back issue, although Rory McKenzie and Liam Polworth could both return from injury for the game against the Steelmen.