Aug 31st 2010: Kilmarnock have signed Alexei Eremenko on a season-long loan from Ukraine club Metalist Kharkiv.

The 27-year-old Finnish international is an attacking midfielder who can play a number of roles.

The Rugby Park manager Mixu Paatelainen has used his contacts in his homeland to land Eremenko, who has scored 13 goals in 44 appearances for Finland.

Eremenko has recently been on loan at FC Jaro, a team managed by his father, where he scored six goals in 15 games.

He started his career with Finnish club FC Jokerit in 2001 before moving to HJK Helsinki in 2002.

After a successful two years at HJK, where he won two league championships and one Finnish Cup, he went on to play at the top level in Italy with Lecce, followed by a three-year stay in Russia with FC Saturn.

In 2009 he signed a three-year deal with Metalist then spent most of 2010 on loan back in his native Finland at FC Jaro.

Sept 12th: Kilmarnock's Alexei Eremenko said about his debut (Vs St Mirren)...  "It was my first game and I was a little bit nervous beforehand because my first training session with the team was Friday.  I didn't really know what to expect, but I think it was okay for the first game. I made some good passes at the start of the game which gave me confidence. It was an okay performance from me, but I can even play much better than this. I think Mixu expects from me a more offensive role than defensive. He's not expecting me to run like crazy after the ball, he's expecting me to give the passes and score goals. If I do the job that he has told me, it's not that I have to run after the ball. I was a little tired but I will get in better shape. I've scored many goals, especially from that free-kick position. In the national team I've scored many goals from the same position on the left, it was a little bit lucky.  I saw the keeper (Paul Gallacher) was moving the other way. I don't think he expected a shot, he thought I would cross so I knew that if I hit the ball right he would not save it."

November 2010 SPL Player of the month Alexei Eremenko wants to remain at Kilmarnock but admits he is bracing himself for a January departure from Rugby Park.

The 27-year-old received his Clydesdale Bank award after helping the Ayrshire side to three wins and a draw in their five games during November.

But playmaker Eremenko is on loan from Ukrainian club Metalist Kharkiv.

"If they get a good offer for me and they want to sell me, there is not much I can do about it. I like playing here and, at the moment, I don't want to move anywhere, but many things depend on Metalist. I am speaking to them, but they haven't really given me any news. Now that I'm here and I'm enjoying playing and have seen how the team is playing, it would not be a surprise if I stayed here in January.  For me and for the team, to stay at Kilmarnock would be the best thing."

Judges deciding on the best performer during November in the Scottish Premier League praised the Finland international for "his strong performances and attacking threat".

"It's a big thing for me to win this award, Winning any award is a good thing, but especially this one. I have only been here for three months, so to get this award is a big thing. I have to say thanks to the manager and my team-mates because, without them, I wouldn't have it."

Eremenko refused to look too far ahead but admits he would love to play in the Premier League in England one day.

"I don't really have a goal, I just want to enjoy my football, I'm happy here at the moment, but England is the toughest league in the world, and the best league, so I think any player would want to play there."

According to Clydesdale Bank judges, "Eremenko has been on good form throughout the month, pulling the strings in the heart of Kilmarnock's midfield" and that was echoed by Manager Mixu Paatelainen said... "He has done tremendously well for us, He is our playmaker, he is on the ball a lot and we are doing well. The deal is, if a club comes in and wants to buy Alexei from Metalist, and they agree to that, then he will go, So there is a possibility he could leave in January, although the loan deal is until the summer."