McInnes on crucial point, Magennis return & Hearts test
- Published
Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes has been speaking to the media before his side's Scottish Premiership match with Hearts on Sunday.
Here are the key points from his press conference:
Last-gasp point gained at Tannadice felt "more valuable than others" and McInnes is taking positives from recent performances, saying that other than the second half at Ibrox they have been "competing in games".
"Huge positive" in Kyle Magennis being back after making an appearance off of the bench at Tannadice, ending a year-long lay-off.
The returning midfielder was brought on over others on Saturday "not because of sentiment, we needed a result".
McInnes says home form is pivotal in everything Killie are trying to do and they have to try to take full advantage of it: "Our home form won us the title [Championship], kept us in the league, and got us into a European place."
He reckons that "by 8 January, that's normally where you'll be roughly come end of the season" and is hoping to be mid-table and pushing top six by then.
On Hearts, McInnes says they have a "set way of playing that they won't change" under Neil Critchley.
The Rugby Park boss joked he was "absolutely buzzing" Lawrence Shankland is suspended and unable to play on Sunday.
McInnes says it is natural to want to play a side after a European away tie, but regardless Killie have to be the side that "catches fire a wee bit for ourselves and gets a strong performance".
Matthew Kennedy and Liam Donnelly have not trained fully this week but could be ready for Sunday's game.
