Dec 25th 2009 .... So far he's not played as much as he'd hoped and goes into today's clash against Dundee United with Killie just a point off bottom.

The 21-year-old said: "We didn't have the best time last season at Boro to be honest, but hopefully that won't happen here. I'm confident it won't happen, to be honest.

"I came to Killie in the summer and haven't played as much as I'd have liked.

"But I'll get my head down and I'll be patient. I've got no doubt I can play in this league when I'm ready.

"I can play in the SPL, I just need to show the fans. My team-mates know I can play in this league. Jim Jefferies and Billy Brown can hopefully see what I do in training. I just need to prove it to myself.

"The gaffer and Billy have been good to me since I've been here.

"I know what I can do and when I get my chance I'll be fine, don't worry about that.

"There were a few things I could have done in the summer, but I spoke to the gaffer and Billy and thought this was going to be something fresh for me and good.

"I wanted to move up here and see how I got on with it. I'd be a lot more happy if I was playing more, but that's something I can't affect at the minute.

"I need to wait for my turn and when I get my chance I'll take it."

Owens told Boro boss Gareth Southgate he wanted to leave and has since seen Gordon Strachan take over at the Riverside.

He added: "I've thought what might have been if I'd stayed at Boro once or twice, but I spoke to Gareth Southgate when I left and he was fine with me.

"He told me I could have stayed, but I wanted to play first-team football.

"It hasn't quite worked out up here yet, but as soon as I get my chance I'll take it."

Killie face a tough festive period as they battle against dropping to the foot of the table.

First up is today's trip to Tannadice followed by a visit from Celtic on Wednesday night.

There were boos from home fans after the home defeat by Falkirk last weekend. Owens said: "United away then Celtic will be hard games.

We played the team who were bottom of the league in our last game and they were better than us. But we're not going to have any easy games in this league. We've got to fight for every point.

"We've a lot of talent in that changing room, we just get frustrated with each other sometimes. But we need everyone to get behind us.

"We know we didn't play well against Falkirk so they have every right to boo if they want.

"We need to do better to please them, as well as the gaffer and Billy.

"We're doing everything right in training and training's going well.

"It seems to be little lapses here and there in games which cost us big time, but hopefully we'll put that right starting now."