Source: Team_Talk
Mixu happy with striker situation
Mixu Paatelainen has assured Kilmarnock fans that he has options to bring in a striker after they drew a blank in their opening SPL home game.[LNB] Killie have lost forwards Kevin Kyle, Allan Russell, David Fernandez and on-loan Chris Maguire since the end of last season, during which they scored just six goals in 18 SPL matches on the road.[LNB]Danny Invincibile, who has spent most of his career in midfield, started in a lone central striker's role during the 1-0 SPL defeat against Motherwell.[LNB]Conor Sammon, Killie's only experienced, recognised centre-forward, has only scored two goals in 44 SPL appearances and made little impact when he came on against the Steelmen.[LNB]But Paatelainen insists some of his trialists could yet emerge as potential successors to the likes of Kyle.[LNB]"We've got a few strikers, I've lost count," the Finn said.[LNB]"It's not through lack of effort. There are a couple of options available to us but we want to make sure the players that come in are the right ones.[LNB]"Hopefully one or two of them will fit the bill and be financially agreeable and have the characteristics and attributes of a player that meets our demands.[LNB]"Hopefully that's the case and we can put the transfer market to bed.[LNB]"I can't wait for that because it has been a long pre-season, looking at different players, but it's a very important part of management."[LNB]Killie were undone by Motherwell's on-loan Blackburn forward Nick Blackman, who finished clinically just before the halfway point of a match with few clear-cut chances.[LNB]And a similar loan arrangement remains an alternative for Killie.[LNB]"I've been in contact with loads of managers down south and that's an option but we just have to make sure that everything is right," said Paatelainen.[LNB]The former Hibernian manager will have Mehdi Taouil and Tim Clancy available following injury and suspension for the Co-operative Insurance Cup second round when Airdrie visit Rugby Park on Wednesday.[LNB]However, Craig Bryson suffered a dead leg against Motherwell and is fighting to recover to face more visitors from Lanarkshire.
