Derek McInnes admits he was delighted to discover Lawrence Shankland will be missing when Hearts visit Rugby Park on Sunday.
Shankland ended a 12-game goal drought when his double earned Hearts a 2-0 win over Dundee last Saturday. But the striker also picked up his sixth domestic booking of the season which means he will be suspended this weekend. “Lawrence scoring last Saturday was huge for Hearts as he was so important in them finishing third last season,” said Killie boss McInnes. “So I am absolutely buzzing he is suspended this week!”
McInnes now hopes the absence of the striker can boost his chances of taking advantage of any potential Euro hangover suffered by the Gorgie men. Neil Critichley’s side will head to Ayrshire after a testing Europa Conference League assignment in Copenhagen on Thursday and McInnes knows only too well how difficult it can be in those circumstances.
Killie lost all three of their domestic fixtures earlier this season after returning from European trips to Bruges, Tromso and Copenhagen. “That type of European fixture can take a lot out of you,” added McInnes. “We played in Copenhagen on a Thursday and then had to go to Pittodrie on the Sunday.
“Hearts have games through their legs now but I have always found that it helps if you are at home after a European game. The travel again, after travelling abroad, puts you at a wee disadvantage but Hearts have a good squad and plenty of bodies to choose from.
“Neil won’t be using that as an excuse but all managers will want to play a team off the back of a European game. That is just natural. You want to play a team who haven’t had a rest but regardless of whether Hearts are fresh or not, we have to be the team that catches fire and gets a strong performance.”
Killie inflicted the first defeat of Critichley’s Hearts tenure when they came from behind to win 2-1 at Tynecastle at the end of October. “We beat them with a strong performance that day but we will need to turn up for 90 minutes on Sunday,” said McInnes.
“Hearts have a clear way of playing under Neil. When Steven Naismith was the manager, they were flexible and had a lot of success doing that. Hearts have good players and they have a set way of playing under Neil.”
Killie keeper Robby McCrorie has recovered from the knock which forced him to limp off against Dundee United at Tannadice last Saturday while winger Matty Kennedy could return against Hearts.
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