Source: FOOTYMAD
Hard To Replace Sammon
Mixu Paatelainen has set a challenge to his fringe players to follow the path taken by Connor Sammon. Mixu Paatelainen admits it will be difficult to find somebody to fill the boots of Conor Sammon if anything comes of the interest shown in the Killie the striker by Scunthorpe. Sammon is talking to the npower Championship club after Kilmarnock accepted an offer for the Irishman. If Sammon does agree terms it is expected he will be on his way today before the game against Hearts. The former Derry City player has scored 16 goals this season and Paatelainen also faces losing the influential Alexei Eremenko, whose season-long loan from Metalist Kharkiv could end this month if the Ukrainian side sell the midfielder. These two departures would be added to the loss of Chelsea left-back Ben Gordon after the London club agreed to send him on loan to Scunthorpe when he recovers from injury, following a successful five-month spell at Rugby Park. Paatelainen admits it is a blow and it will not be easy to replace such talent. He said: "I'm not confident but I'll try my best as always. We'll soldier on and if players leave we'll try to make sure that if players leave I bring in players who can do the job, if not as well, close to it. Obviously there will be money coming in but we won't be in a position to pay a transfer fee. The chairman has told me that if Conor goes, we will need to replace him. We're working on that in case it happens. Hopefully the chairman allows me to strengthen other areas as well. We haven't discussed that yet but the chairman has always said if there are players out there who will make us better and are within our budget, then we should make a move."Sammon's form has been one of the stories of the season following an indifferent first two years at Rugby Park. The striker scored seven goals in his first two campaigns but has developed into a fitter and far more confident player under Paatelainen, whose tactics of playing the ball along the ground in front of the Irishman have allowed him to utilise his pace and power. And the Kilmarnock manager has challenged other fringe players to follow in Sammon's footsteps. Paatelainen said: "What we need to remember as well is that Conor is still young. He is developing every season. This season he has worked very hard on his movement and starting positions and what he does in certain situations, and he has been a revelation. I think it's a good example to the other players, working hard, listening and doing the right stuff, you can have a successful career." Editor Ger Harley (ger@scottishfitba net)Admin Team (admin@scottishfitba net)This is ScottishFitba Net
