McCann on Curtis call-up, 'huge' game v Livi & 'legend' Fleeting
· Yahoo Sports
Kilmarnock head coach Neil McCann has been speaking to the media as his side prepare for Saturday's visit of Livingston.
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Here are the main points:
- McCann is "buzzing" for Rangers loanee Findlay Curtis, who received his first Scotland call-up for this month's friendlies, and says it is a "feather in the cap" for Kilmarnock having helped to develop the winger this season.
- The Rugby Park squad are "delighted" for Curtis as well, and McCann says: "He's integrated so well to the group you'd think we was a Kilmarnock player."
- He adds: "I think what it probably does is give maybe a wee bit of confidence to the group that there's eyes on us. I know it was a televised game the other night there against the league leaders, which gives its own profile, but it shows that there's an opportunity there for you if you come and perform."
- While McCann has been impressed with Curtis, he stresses "Findlay is not guaranteed a place, he has to earn it" and adds: "Although he was great against Hearts, there's no guarantees he plays this weekend because we have players really asking questions."
- McCann says the past week has been "great" following their win over leaders Hearts and "the luxury is that after a result like that you can allow the guys to really enjoy it".
- He believes "the evidence was there that we are a good side" and feels Killie "just need to get the consistency" in their performances.
- Killie occupy the relegation play-off spot and host bottom club Livingston on Saturday, with McCann describing it as a "huge game" but "not the biggest game of the season".
- Marvin Bartley, who took over from David Martindale at Livi, has "really started to get a tune out of the players" and McCann insists: "We can't go into this game thinking we've cracked it, we absolutely haven't."
- While Killie could go above St Mirren and out of the relegation play-off place, depending on the Buddies' result at Falkirk, McCann says "that's not going to be the message" and feels "the big prize is three points, whether that is going to take us out of that spot is out of our control".
- On former Killie manager Jim Fleeting, who died this week, McCann recalls "a legend in Ayrshire who did so much for grassroots and coaching in this country" and says "he'll be sadly missed".
- Team news: McCann says the squad is "looking great" and there's "no fitness worries at all".