Source: FOOTYMAD
Can Taouil Fill The Gap Left By Eremenko?
Big boots to fill but confidence is high in Kilmarnock Kilmarnock's Tim Clancy can see Mehdi Taouil making up for the absence of Alexei Eremenko when Rangers call around to Rugby Park today. The Ibrox side are looking to enough to win the SPL and Killie will be without Eremenko who is suspended for the final game of the season. He played the last game of his loan spell from Metalist Kharkiv in Wednesday's 1-1 draw with Motherwell. The Finnish impressive playmaker has been central to Kilmarnock's attractive brand of football this season, but Taouil has also revelled in the system introduced by Mixu Paatelainen and continued by caretaker boss Kenny Shiels. The Moroccan internationalist has come off the subs bench in the last two games after recovering from injury and is expected to return to the starting line-up to replace Eremenko. Clancy said: "He (Eremenko) would be a miss for any team to be honest, he has been brilliant for the club. It was a great coup Mixu getting him in at the start of the season. He has been a fantastic player for us and he has been fantastic for the league as well. He is a really creative player and even away teams enjoyed watching his play. When we travelled away from home, the home fans would enjoy watching him as well. He is a really good player and obviously he will be missed. But Mehdi Taouil is back and I think Mehdi is a superb player and he is easily as good as him as well ability-wise. So if Mehdi gets on the pitch on Sunday then I'm sure he will fill the void left by Alexei." Shiels believes the absence of Eremenko will give other players the chance to enjoy some headlines in the game which will be the centre of attention for a number of reasons today. The caretaker manager said: "Obviously a player of his quality is going to be a miss but we can supplement that because it gives other players a chance to take that light away from Eremenko. We have other good players and they will be out to demonstrate that on Sunday."
