Killie striker Steven Naismith has voiced his desire to play in the
Champions League and the World Cup after a two-day trial at Arsenal.
However, while the 19-year-old, Scotland Under-21 forward has dreams
of playing at the highest level, he insists his main focus is keeping a
level head and remaining in the Rugby Park first team.
Naismith said..... "I believe, if you are good enough,
then you will be picked up and, maybe, one day play in the biggest
tournaments such as the World Cup and Champions League, so it is nice to
be noticed.
"Receiving interest from anyone is pleasing, but I know, if I am not
playing well, I could be dropped from any team, so I need to keep my
performance levels high.
"It is great things are going well just now, but I know at any moment
I could be named as a substitute at Kilmarnock, which makes it important
my form does not dip and I go into a downward spiral."
Naismith on Manchester United's Darren Fletcher.... "It
is frightening that Darren can still play at Under-21 level when he is
one of the main players for Scotland - it just shows the quality of some
of our younger players.
"He is definitely an inspiration because he is playing in the
Premiership and Champions League against some of the best players in the
world.
"You just have to look at what he has achieved in such a short career
and
hope you can go on to reach that level of success as well."
Scotland Under-21 manager Knox on Naismith ....
"Arsenal would not be looking at Steven without having the idea he can
develop and become a player for them."
Jim Jefferies on Naismith (Aug 29th)... "His
feet are on the ground and he knows he is still learning and has great
potential. Everybody recognises that this boy is a talented player and
he will only get better. He is going to have even more clubs coming in
for him. Clubs are interested and would love to have him but can't
afford him. But as time goes by he will have the chance to go somewhere
big because he has the confidence and the belief that if he is doing
well for Kilmarnock and playing every week that will help his cause. We
are happy he is here and he is happy to remain so we will see what
happens in the near future. People
have been saying that he is now about
to join Arsenal. They have had some discussions with us. They have had a
lot of good reports about him but this is what they do. They invite
young players to meet the manager and have a look around. That's their
prerogative and we accepted the invitation and he wanted to go down. If
the club like what they saw and are interested then we will have to wait
and see what happens. He said if nothing comes of it then it would
definitely be a good experience so I said I'd go down with him. We can't
stop any club making an offer and if it's the right offer then we have
to consider it. I hope it doesn't happen and Steven is still with us but
who knows what might happen.If a big club make an offer we can't refuse
and the boy wants to go then so be it. I am hoping it doesn't happen and
he is still in the team for the next game (against Dunfermline on
September 9). If a club he does go to decide to leave him here for a
spell then that would be even better. I wouldn't have let him go down if
I thought it would harm him, Steven wants to play football and he signed
a four-year contract here and is very happy at Kilmarnock. He will take
it in his stride. I spoke to his mum and dad and I said there was a lot
of plusses and minuses going down but he is not going to have any
reaction to it."
