Calderwood looking for strong characters

Jimmy Calderwood is optimistic the return of Kevin Kyle, Frazer Wright and Scott Severin can help haul Kilmarnock out of relegation danger. The Ayrshire side travel to face fellow strugglers St Mirren tomorrow on the back of a terrible away run.Killie have netted just four goals in 17 away games in the Scottish Premier League and have lost their last five matches on the road.But they are at full strength for the Paisley trip with Scotland striker Kyle back from suspension and midfielder Severin and defender Wright fit again."I've never been in this situation but it will definitely take character," Calderwood said. "Those three have got it in abundance."Big Kyle, two weeks ago we played against Aberdeen and two good defenders in (Zander) Diamond and (Charlie) Mulgrew, and they really had problems with them."He's playing with a smile on his face, maybe because there is so much interest him, I don't know."He is the fittest he has been since I've been at the club. He is massive for us coming back, and we know what Severin can do."We thought we had lost Frazer Wright, he is one of the characters you need in the trenches also. So that's a big boost for us."Calderwood admits he has softened his approach while the players bid to restore their confidence."You tend not to get on at them as much," the former Aberdeen manager said."It's not one of my favourite things but you go about with kid gloves a wee bit to try to keep them with a smile on their face."It's easy to give them a rollicking if training is not right, but you tend to do that more if you're going for Europe rather than this position."Kilmarnock's plight appears to be the most serious of the three relegation contenders, given their debts of around £10million, but Calderwood does not fear for the existence of the club should they finish behind Saints and Falkirk."I did probably four or five weeks ago but, after lengthy discussions with the chairman, I don't fear that," he said."But it would be difficult to keep the standard of players they have got."It would be very difficult for Kilmarnock to get back to where they used to be."Midfielder James Fowler is one of the few players whose contracts run beyond the summer but he still has concerns over his future as well as those of his colleagues."We read in the press the debt Kilmarnock are in and it's not good to read," the 29-year-old said."There are boys out of contract, and there are boys under contract as well but that might not count for much if the club get relegated."It's just important for the club and the fans to stay in the Premier League. We have probably got more debt than others around us so it is a worry."Fowler added: "I've got another year, but obviously it's a team game."Contract talks have been put on hold because of the situation so we are playing, not just for ourselves, but for team-mates as well and the club in general."You're trying not to think about it too much. If you do the right things, work hard and maybe get a wee bit of luck, then things will go for you."

Source: Team_Talk