ALAN Mahood can see a few more wrinkles on the face of Kris Boyd and even his hair, which has been rebuilt, has some grey flecks these days.
But there are a few things which have stood the test of time some 19 years after their paths first crossed at Kilmarnock.
“He was just a big daft boy that wanted to score goals – and he has never changed, thankfully,” recalls Mahood, who had established himself in the team by the time a 17-year-old Boyd was being prepared for stardom.
“He was raw but wanted to learn and work on his game and he got his rewards. I remember his debut against Celtic in 2001, the last game of the season, when he came on as a sub. I scored the winner that day and I remember it well because it got us into Europe.
“I remember Boydy coming on for his debut and it was Ally McCoist’s last game for Kilmarnock. It was like a passing on of the torch that day. The two of them are proven goal-scorers. When you are playing with them, they are similar types because they know where the goals are.”
And that is the thing about Boyd, who will face Rangers at Rugby Park today; he will be favourite to be first goalscorer. He really does know where the goals are. Indeed, a double today in the Betfred Cup would take him to 300 career goals.
“Boydy has had stick about his weight and movement but you don’t score that amount of goals without good movement,” said Mahood. “He just knows how to make a yard for himself – and Coisty was the same.
“He has not really changed his game, although when he was a young boy he did work hard and run about. He did the full shift. As you get older you tailor your game to suit yourself and he’s done that.
“The big yin has a tattoo that reads ‘the goals don’t move’ and that has always been his motto.
“I think you have to give credit to the boys around about him because it’s not just the Boydy show. If the boys around him weren’t working hard and creating chances for him then he wouldn’t score.
“How long can he go on? You will need to ask him in terms of how his body feels. I think Coisty was 38 when he stopped so I don’t see any reason why Boydy can’t do the same.”
McCoist finished on 255 Premier League goals, Boyd is next on 220. Now a veteran at 34, it might be too much to ask him to catch his former teacher but don’t write him off.
“It’s a big ask. He would need to do really well in the next two or three seasons,” said Mahood who is now head of recruitment for the youth department at Kilmarnock. “But goalscorers are always chasing targets so maybe that’s in the back of his mind and keeps him hungry.”
Today is a big test for Steven Gerrard’s side. Rugby Park, and that surface, is no rival player’s favourite ground, but it is more about the home team’s players rather than the surface that will make Rangers have to work hard for a win.
“People say to me ‘Rugby Park must be some place to work right now’ and it is,” said Mahood. “Steve Clarke has brought the feel-good factor back. We’re hard to beat and a team that doesn’t concede easily. Then if we nick one, it’s a bonus.
“Steve has transformed the place. You can see that the boys are all happy to be here.”
And as long as Boyd is still scoring goals, Rugby Park will continue to be a good place to be.
Alan Mahood was speaking a the launch of The Kris Boyd Testimonial. For details on testimonial events, including a Sportsman’s Dinner on September 8, follow @boydyofficial
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