Jan 18th On Playing So Soon After His Ankle Break... "When I first went for the X-ray, the hospital said the ankle was broken, At first, it went up like a balloon and I definitely thought I'd be out for a good while. I was gutted at the New Year, to be honest. I was in a plaster-cast for four days, but then I went to the specialist and after they X-rayed it again, he said it was an old fracture that nothing could be done with. With the old fracture, the ligament had come off the bone. It was a few years ago when I did it and no-one had noticed. I might have done it at Partick because I remember missing a game after I had gone over on my ankle, or at Dundee when I missed another game. It's just one of those things when you go over on your ankle and you just think it is sore. It's pretty much it (that I had a broken ankle for about four years). Seriously, I can't speak highly enough of the physios for getting me back and getting me ready again. They knew exactly what they were doing. They worked on it and worked on it and, after a week and a half, the swelling was down and I could do a bit on it.  It was good to be able to play so early. The physio said I could train on Sunday and I did and again on Monday. I'm happy because I just wanted back as soon as possible and the Dundee match came at the perfect time."
On the Upcoming Ayr Lge Cup Semi..."I'm really looking forward to the occasion at Hampden and being part of it," said Harkins. Hopefully, I can be selected and try to do something in the game. The manager has a good cup record, but it's all in the past now. We're going into a big game and it's a derby as well as a semi-final, so we'll need to be at our best. We're still in all of the competitions and we're confident in how we are as a team."

Jan 1st on Breaking His Ankle...“It would have been good to face Dundee but if the boys beat Ayr I’ll be back in contention for the final in March.  It’s a huge derby and people don’t realise how important it is until you’re going to be part of it.  I was starting to play well but I’m confident I can come back even better. This is the worst injury I’ve had.” “I couldn’t believe it.  It was a tackle with Zdenek but there was nothing in it. He didn’t kick me – it was just a challenge and I went over on it.  But I walked off the pitch and drove to hospital so I didn’t think it was that bad. I just wanted a precautionary X-ray. When they said it was broken, I was gutted.”
“I’ve had a good run without injuries so I can’t complain. It’s not like what Ryan( O'Leary)  has had to go through – he’s been out for months.  Sometimes a break is better than doing ligaments. I could have been out for the season or even a year so it’s not too bad. I’ll be four weeks in a cast then however long I take to recover. I’m not a great watcher when I can’t play but I’ll try to get to every Killie game while I’m out.”

Oct 24th on the Motherwell Post Match..."If you watched that game you wouldn't believe the criticism the league gets. Some of the football that gets played is excellent. St Mirren, for instance, play good football and the rest are following suit. If that continues, the development is that the national team starts playing better, the Scottish game goes higher up the rankings and everybody's got a buzz for it again. I'm sure if things continue like that attendances will rise. We were a bit frustrated to come to Motherwell, play well but get yet another draw. We just need a wee bit of luck and we'll get three points. Last week against Celtic we conceded two free-kicks and lost two goals. Hopefully we'll get a break one day. We're all 100 per cent behind the manager. The way he wants to play is the way we want to be playing. If we can keep the belief hopefully we can get results. You watch Leagues One and Two (in England) and your neck gets sore. The football that gets played here is to be encouraged. I'm sure people would much rather watch passing football than long-ball football. I had a couple of chance I could've done better with but the one off the post was very disappointing. Paul Heffernan and Dean Shiels have the bulk of our goals because they've taken the chances that come to them. If the rest of us were scoring, we'd be winning more games. For me all it will take will be to get one and then hopefully I'll hit the ground running."

July 16th on the Ross Co Post-Match..."It's a bit early to be scoring goals like that and hopefully I can keep a few for the rest of the season. It was good to get out there. We played well so it was worthwhile and we could have scored more. Pre-season is just about building yourself up for the new campaign and we've a friendly against Preston on Monday before the season starts on Sunday. I'm really happy to be here and looking forward to the challenge. We had a good time in Ireland worked hard. It's a good set of lads we have here at the club."
On Buijs's Goal.... "Danny scored a good well-worked goal and I'm pleased for him. You can see he's a good player with a good pedigree."

July 10th On the Pre-Season So Far...."I want to play my normal game, get on the ball and score or create a few goals. I'm not the new Eremenko or Mehdi Taouil, I'm just focusing on my own game.

"The boys have been at the wind-up, calling me the new Eremenko and saying I look like Zidane. I'm not having any of that, but I'm really enjoying it at Kiillie. The gaffer has given me a role I'm comfortable with and it's been good so far.

"I can get into space in front of the midfield and try to make things happen. This suits me perfectly. There's no point playing in a team that doesn't get the ball down. The system is good and the boys are comfortable on the ball."

Harkins sealed the 2-0 win over the Irish outfit with a header after Heffernan grabbed his first Killie goal...... "It was good to get another goal, but I don't know what their goalie was doing. He pulled off a wonder save from James Dayton then my header somehow slipped under his body. But a goal is a goal. I'll take them any way they come. It has been a good week over here.

"It's all about getting minutes on the pitch and making sure it comes together for the start of the season. It's always nice to get a few wins as well though - that helps with the confidence for the new season."

June 23rd 2011..... GARY HARKINS last night told Kilmarnock fans he can't fill the shoes of last term's star man Alexei Eremenko.

But the Rugby Park new boy insists he has the ability to ensure the Finnish midfield maestro becomes little more than a distant memory.

And the 26-year-old, who joined the Ayrshire side from Dundee this week, reckons he can hit new heights thanks to Killie's free-flowing style.

The playmaker said: "I'm no replacement for Eremenko as that would be some act to follow. He showed that very few players could fill the void his departure has left.

"But hopefully I can show my ability by setting up and scoring goals for Killie.

"He was a fantastic player but we are different types with different assets.

"The biggest selling point about moving here is getting the chance to play football the way it is meant to be played. I like to get the ball down and create and that's what this club is all about.

"The methods here allowed Eremenko to thrive and hopefully they will also bring out the best in me.

"It's how I want to play the game and hopefully this is the perfect fit for both myself and the club."

The former Partick Thistle player, who started his career at Blackburn Rovers, has spent four years in Scotland's second tier and intends to make the most of his chance.

Harkins said: "When I first signed at Partick my aim was to play at the top level so I'm delighted to get here.

"I'm 26 now and that's not so young but I'm determined to show the ability I believe I have against the best players in the SPL.

"It's a different level but that doesn't worry me."