Kilmarnock

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Midfielder Brad Lyons is out for Kilmarnock's three remaining games of the season with a hamstring injury, manager Derek McInnes has confirmed.

The Northern Ireland international, who has endured an injury-hit campaign, was a second-half substitute in Sunday's defeat at Rangers.

But the 26-year-old had to be removed soon after with an issue that will rule him out for up to three weeks.

However, McInnes has been boosted by the return of forward Greg Stewart, who is back in full training following a hernia operation.

And on James Balagizi, who has been out with a knee injury, McInnes said: "He’s not trained yet but we're hoping he could come into contention."

Kilmarnock travel to Paisley on Saturday looking to bounce back from their defeat to Rangers last time out.

What team would you like to start against St Mirren? Pick your Killie XI here.

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Connor Barron, Lyall Cameron, Lennon Miller and David Watson have been named on the shortlist for the Scottish Football Writers Association's young player of the year award.

Kilmarnock teenager Watson claimed the PFA prize last week and will be looking to make it a double, but the teenager faces competition from fellow midfielders Cameron (Dundee), Miller (Motherwell) and Barron (Aberdeen).

Cameron and Miller, along with Rangers' Northern Irish winger Ross McCausland, were also in contention for the PFA award, but Aberdeen and Scotland Under-21 midfielder Barron replaces the Ibrox forward on the SFWA shortlist.

Since 2019, the SFWA prize has been restricted only to players who are eligible to play for Scotland's U21s.

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Stuart Findlay hopes a sell-out away support can help inspire Kilmarnock to securing a fourth-placed finish at St Mirren this weekend.

The Ayrshire side travel to Paisley with a six-point advantage over Saturday’s opponents and know a win would mean they are officially out of reach.

"From what I've heard, Kilmarnock have sold out the away end already so it is going to be a massive game for both teams," centre-back Findlay said.

"It is up to us to try to cement that fourth position. [St Mirren and us] have been very close to each other and so far we have come out on top with two wins in three games."

Kilmarnock will make the trip to St Mirren on the back of a heavy 4-1 defeat to Rangers, during which they were reduced to 10 men after going a goal ahead.

"I think there were parts of the game, even with the 10 men, we know we have to do a bit better," Findlay said of Sunday's defeat.

"But I think the boys can be proud of the effort they put in. It is a hard place to go as it is, without going down to 10 men.

"It is a tough one to take. It is the heaviest defeat we have had (this season) and it is a bit harsh on us, but we have a really big game next, a perfect one to bounce back and I am sure we will do that."

I don't mean to sound like an old broken record but I hated VAR before its arrival in Scotland and I hate it even more now.

The opening 20 minutes at Ibrox on Sunday would drive fans away as a clueless VAR official tried to re-referee the game.

The constant needless stoppages ruined the game and if they thought Joe Wright's handball was deliberate they simply don't understand football.

Sunday wasn't all bad as David Watson won the young player of the year and deservedly so.

He's a credit to the club and to his family, I look forward to following his career when he moves on.

It's another huge game this Saturday as we travel to Paisley. A win or probably even a draw will secure fourth place and that is an excellent effort by all concerned.

Our record against St Mirren recently is superb and I think that will continue. The suitcase will be getting packed on Sunday.

Sandy Armour is editor of the Killie Hippo fanzine

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Cathy Jamieson is to remain on the Kilmarnock board once her six-year tenure as the Killie Trust director ends.

The former Labour politician and Scottish government minister was due to step down at the end of this month after serving her second and final stint on the board as the fan group's representative.

But she has accepted an offer to remain on the board in a non-executive position, supporting the work of the Killie Community charity and leading the club's child protection and wellbeing strategy.

"My role ends as the Trust's director, but I am delighted that the club has asked me to be on the board as a non-executive director," Jamieson said.

The Killie Trust has previously asked for notes of interest from members to become its new representative on the club board.

Dundee and Kilmarnock have targeted 25-year-old striker Bruce Anderson, who is poised to leave Livingston this summer at the end of his contract. (Courier - subscription), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish Gossip

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David Watson thanked Derek McInnes for his "belief" after the Kilmarnock midfielder was named PFA Scotland young player of the year.

The Rugby Park boss gave the teenager his debut for the club, paving the way for a stellar season in which Killie have already secured European football.

"It's amazing," Watson told PFA Scotland, external. "It's a great honour to be nominated by my fellow players, and to win it is just even better.

"I think securing fourth will feel like the perfect ending. This is a great achievement to get young player of the year.

"I'd like to say thank you to my coaches when I was younger. Obviously the gaffer [Derek McInnes] for believing in me and giving me my first full-time start in the SPFL.

"There's a lot of amazing players and it's such a honour for them to see the season I've had and vote for me."

We asked for your thoughts after 10-man Kilmarnock were beaten 4-1 at Ibrox on Sunday.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Stephen: We did really well for 53 mins of the first half, but should have kept the ball to see it out, instead of an aimless punt upfield. Wrong call taking Danny off, leaving midfield light and two strikers with no service

Adam: Never a red card, Wright was falling backwards and the ball was hit from less than a foot away, so what was he to do? No wonder we don’t have any referees going to the Euros! Sorry to say referees ruined what would have been a great game.

John: We were doing okay, VAR doing all it could to get Rangers a penalty. Poor defending at some of the goals but had feeling we were going to lose a few goals. It was harsh on us but we are proud to give the Old Firm teams a fright at their places.

James: Game ruined by VAR. The first half was too much start stop and disrupted the game, for both clubs. Because of VAR and the time added on because of it gave Rangers an equaliser. If Killie had held on to the lead at half time maybe things would have been different. Killie can hold their heads high with 10 men for most of the game.

Robert: Surely a referee should be capable of using common sense. If a defender makes a goalkeeper-type save to stop a goal then a red card is fine. A clearly accidental handball like yesterday should never mean a red. Penalty and red is double punishment and totally unreasonable.

Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes questions the need for eight minutes of first-half added time against Rangers, during which the Ibrox side equalised before going on to win 4-1. (Herald - subscription), external

Read Monday's Scottish Gossip

Derek McInnes says the red card issued to defender Joe Wright, and the 4-1 scoreline, "was harsh" on his Kilmarnock side at Ibrox.

McInnes' men were a goal up at the point of Wright's dismissal for handball before going on to lose heavily.

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Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes told BBC Scotland: "A lot of things transpired against us. The scoreline was pretty harsh on us. Early part of the game we showed what we've been this season. Vassell and Watkins were doing terrific.

"It wasn't as if Rangers were playing through us, it was their directness that was causing us problems.

"I think Joe Wright is extremely unlucky to concede a penalty and get a red card. If that's the rule that's the rule, but I thought it was extremely harsh on us.

"We'll move on quickly from this. Next Saturday we hope to make it a good day for us because we've had plenty of them this season."

McInnes says an injury to Brad Lyons "doesn't look good".

What did you make of that, Kilmarnock fans? Was it a red card for Joe Wright? Did you feel confident at 1-0 up?

And how do you feel now third is now officially out of reach?

Tell us your thoughts here.

The only team that has beaten Kilmarnock since the start of December is Rangers.

That is an absolutely astonishing statistic and one Derek McInnes and his staff and players should be rightly proud of.

4-1 was harsh on them. Although they didn't look likely to score any more, they really frustrated Rangers for large parts of the game and even Joe Wright's sending off - although a correct decision - felt harsh.

They switched off just once in the first-half - when Fabio Silva scored - and from there, it was a real struggle for them. They did well in the circumstances.

Rangers defender Connor Goldson is out for the season after picking up a knee injury in training. Ridvan Yilmaz and Ryan Jack returned to training this week but only the former has any chance of making it against Killie.

Attackers Abdallah Sima (hamstring) and Rabbi Matondo (knock) remain sidelined while Danilo (knee) and Oscar Cortes (muscle) are out for the rest of the season.

Kilmarnock midfielder James Balagizi picked up a knee strain and is out but will be back for the St Mirren match the following week.

Greg Stewart has recently had a hernia operation but could be back for the end of the season, while Kyle Magennis remains out long term with a hamstring problem.

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Kilmarnock's place in European football next season has been confirmed after Dundee were defeated by St Mirren on Saturday.

Derek McInnes' side now lead the Dens Park outfit by 11 points with three games to go.

The Ayrshire club have a six-point lead over fifth-placed St Mirren, who have played a game more.

The club wrote on X: "We’ve known it has been coming, but results elsewhere today confirms that Kilmarnock will be playing European football next season.

"Thank you to everyone who has supported on this crazy journey! Now let’s secure fourth".

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Joe Wright wishes he could "bottle" Kilmarnock's campaign, with the Rugby Park club on the cusp of European Football.

Having moved to Ayrshire at the start of last season, the defender endured a gruelling season last year as Killie staved off relegation.

But this term, Wright says the sense of positivity has made coming to work a pleasant experience.

"You obviously look forward to the summer and your break away, but if you could bottle this season it'd be brilliant," the 29-year-old said.

"When you're playing with good players, it just makes your game easier. It's just been enjoyable coming in every day.

"It doesn't feel like a job, you're with your friends and just having a good time."

Kilmarnock are keen to nail down fourth place, says Wright, but would need to win at Ibrox if they're to do so this weekend.

"We want to do that [confirm Europe] as soon as possible," Wright added.

"Mathematically, it's not quite there yet, and with everyone playing each other it can look more comfortable than it actually is.

"We've always got that motivation as a team. When you're playing against the Old Firm, you know you've got to be at is as a group. The games against Rangers have been close.

"It helps when you have positive results and performances, you go into these games without fearing anyone."