Experienced midfielder Gary Locke believes
Kilmarnock's young squad is developing into a force to be reckoned with
in the Scottish Premier League.
Jim Jefferies' side leapt to second place - ahead of
both Old Firm clubs - with a 3-0 victory over Livingston at Rugby Park
on Saturday which was secured thanks to a
Colin Nish
hat-trick in 15 first-half minutes.
After an
opening-day defeat to top-of-the-table Hearts, Killie's form has
been impressive as they have continued their fine conclusion to last
term. The Ayrshire club's financial situation means Jefferies' side is
very much home-grown and although Locke is not predicting a sustained
title challenge the former Hearts man is delighted with the progress
which has been made.
The Killie captain said: "We're not getting carried
away with being second. It's still very early days but if we can keep
playing the way we're playing hopefully we can have a decent season.
"Everybody is a year older and so the young guys in
the team have had a bit more experience and showed they are good enough
to play in this league. We also know we've been lucky with injuries so
far with everybody fit.
"That said, if you can have a good start as we have
then nine times out of 10 you tend to go on to have a decent season, so
we can take heart from that.
"We're not kidding ourselves. It's early days, but
there's good competition for places and that helps to keep everyone on
their toes."
Such is the confidence in the Killie dressing room,
Locke could not hide his disappointment at the enforced break due to
international fixtures.
The former Bradford player said: "It's just a pity
there's a break now because really we could with just keeping going with
another game next Saturday.
"Hopefully we can keep things ticking over during the
next two weeks and then put in a good performance against Dunfermline.
"It's nice to have a wee break I suppose but we'd
rather have kept going and tried to build on our start.
"The
manager said to us how well we'd finished last season during the
pre-season and we've carried that into this one so far. Even in the
defeat to Hearts I didn't think we played particularly badly."
One of the young players who has developed in the
early part of this season is Nish, who curled in a beautiful first goal
after 28 minutes
against Livi and was then set up for his second and third by two
fine deliveries from Locke.
The 30-year-old said: "It could hardly miss the second
and third! For five minutes in the first half I thought I had my boots
on the wrong feet but managed to get in the game and get a couple of
crosses over for Nish's goals.
"I'm really pleased for big Nish. The gaffer's been
saying he's been pushing hard for a starting slot and he's come in and
got a hat-trick.
"He's had to wait his chance because Boyd and Naismith
have been playing so well but he took it with a great three goals."
