Westlake suspended for Killie
Kilmarnock defender Darryl Westlake is suspended for the Scottish Premiership clash with St Mirren at Rugby Park on Saturday.
The 24-year-old Englishman was sent off after picking up two yellow cards at Motherwell last week.
Defender Chris Chantler is a doubt with an ankle problem and will be monitored while Rory McKenzie (knee), defender Mark Connolly (broken collarbone), midfielder Jamie Hamill (ankle) and striker Michael Ngoo (ankle) remain on the sidelines.
midfielder Craig Slater will volunteer for penalty duty again but has promised scoring will not result in another "daft" dismissal.
The former Buddies player scored from the spot to make it 2-0 with five minutes to go against the Saints in Paisley on New Year's Day but having been booked earlier, he received a second yellow card for leaping the advertising hoardings to celebrate in front of the travelling Killie support.
The home side also scored with a penalty in injury time but the Ayrshiremen ended up 2-1 victors which means Slater can now smile when recalling his red card.
The 20-year-old said: "I am only smiling because I remember the last game, the penalty, celebrating and then getting sent off. It was just daft. Very daft.
"But that won't be happening again.
"I am concentrating on the game and looking forward to it.
"I will be putting my name down (for any penalty) but it is up to the boys, whether they want me on it. But I will be putting my name down anyway,"
The Scotland under-21 player bears no grudges against his former club who are bottom of the table - "I was there as a young kid and that is in the past" - and insists he is only concentrating on helping Killie, currently eighth, to reach the top six place in the Scottish Premiership.
"They are fighting for their lives as is every team that is down round there," he said.
"But we have to look up to the top six and we need to win as many games as we can."
Viktor Genev has recovered from a hamstring problem for St Mirren.
The Buddies' Bulgarian defender was substituted in his debut against Hamilton two weeks ago but the break has allowed recovery.
Boss Gary Teale said: "The two-week break has allowed us time to get Viktor Genev. He went off in the Hamilton game with a slight hamstring strain so from a positive point of view we have managed to get him back.
"Looking at the other side of the coin it is a bit disappointing, as at this stage of the season we are looking to try and build a wee bit of momentum and after the three points at home against Hamilton, which were vital, we would have been looking to build on it.
"But we just need to look ahead now and hope to get the three points tomorrow."
Defender Marc McAusland is still struggling with his knee while midfielder Isaac Osbourne is out long-term after ankle surgery.
Source: PA
