Kris Boyd still has goals.
They mostly centre on personal and professional fulfilment, and there is a sense of relief that he is able to make career choices based on more than financial reward. Spells in England and Turkey have brought a level of security that allows him to consider what he wants to achieve from the next stage in his career. That might yet involve an extended spell at Kilmarnock.
A return of three goals from nine appearances after returning to Rugby Park as a free agent last February was reasonable enough, but the greater achievement for the striker was to renew the old routine of training and starting matches regularly. At 29, there are still good years left in his career – he remains a bluntly prolific and assured finisher – and Boyd still has ambitions to add to his 18 caps and seven goals with Scotland. Firstly, though, he needs to sort out his immediate future.
"I spoke to the manager here at Kilmarnock before the last game," said Boyd, who was at Rugby Park yesterday to promote the One National Plan, a strategy agreed by all affiliated national associations and member leagues to ensure grassroots football continues to develop. "He's away on holiday now but he said we'd sit down when he gets back and speak with the chairman. We'll take it from there. My family have suffered for the last couple of years because I've moved here, there and everywhere. I'm back home now and I'm happy.
"I've enjoyed being here, taking the kids to school and doing stuff like this, it's a lot more pleasing to help the community when you're back home than helping the kids in other countries. You would rather help people in Scotland to make our country better. I feel happy back here and we'll see what happens."
Kilmarnock need some experienced players to assist and influence the young talent coming through from the club's youth ranks. Boyd could fulfil that role and his satisfaction with life at Rugby Park is evident. The link with Rangers is persistent, not least because Boyd is now a free agent again so could sign for the Ibrox club on September 1, when the registration embargo ends. There has been no approach from his old side, though, and Ally McCoist, the Rangers manager, has been seeking deals for Nicky Clark, the Queen of the South striker, Jon Daly, of Dundee United, and Kenny Miller, although the latter currently remains under contract at Vancouver Whitecaps.
Boyd is adamant that Miller would be a good signing for Rangers, both as a first-team player and as a mentor for the younger players trying to make their way at Ibrox during a difficult time at the club. They were once strike partners at Rangers, and both have an emotional attachment to the team, which is why Boyd is dismissive of the point of view that signing for Rangers in the Irn-Bru Second Division displays a lack of ambition.
"It's a brave decision from Rangers and a brave decision from him to go back for a third time," Boyd said. "He's got young kids who are going to be brought up in Scotland in the long run. Do you want to be back here with the family or away for another couple of years? Kenny's made his decision and he wants to come back home. He'll do well for Rangers.
"The majority of the people who say [it's a lack of ambition to go to Rangers] are people who Rangers don't want. If Rangers chapped their door, it would be a totally different scenario. I don't think any football player in their right mind wouldn't consider it."
The sense is that Boyd would relish a return to Ibrox himself but has come to accept that, for now at least, this does not appear to be likely. His own career aims might be better served by extending his spell at Kilmarnock, where he would be able to resurrect the best of his ability. His former Kilmarnock team-mate, Gordon Greer, was called into the Scotland squad for the first time yesterday, and Boyd was signed for Middlesbrough by Gordon Strachan, who is now in charge of the national team. As well as personal aims, Boyd also wants to serve his country again and believes that he can.
"I was gutted I wasn't called up," he laughed. "I look at James McFadden [at Motherwell] and myself and we are both back playing regularly and scoring goals again. Both of us would probably admit it's a bit early to be back in a Scotland jersey but it's in the plans, I want to get back playing for my country."
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