St Johnstone v Kilmarnock: Boyd casts a long shadow but it is Heffernan who is lighting the way

Saturday 9 March 2013

IT is the reputation of Kris Boyd which carries his greatest threat.

Paul Heffernan

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He has been unable to supplement it with anything more tangible since agreeing a short-term return to Kilmarnock last month, with the striker restricted to just six minutes of action last Sunday and a game for the under-20s during the week which heralded one goal. The image of a man who scored 164 goals in the Scottish Premier League is one which endures, but it has also faded a little through time.

The more striking figure for Kilmarnock supporters this season has been Paul Heffernan. The Irishman has found the net 12 times and has established himself as the main weapon in Kenny Shiels armoury. Once Boyd has regained his sharpness, that prominence could be tested, although Heffernan is not unduly concerned.After all, he has been coping well enough with the challenge of such as Cillian Sheridan, Rory McKenzie and William Gros. "I don't think that Kris's arrival puts any more pressure on me," said Heffernan, whose side face St Johnstone today. "Kris is a good player but so is Cillian Sheridan, while we've got Willie Gros and Rory McKenzie, too. It's good competition and I'm sure a lot of teams in the SPL would like to have that kind of competition for places."I've not been on the pitch much [with Boyd] so far but hopefully if we do get to link up we can get a few goals and start on the right foot."Heffernan is at his most effective when adding a sharp finish to an attack – and he is a dab hand at it, with seven goals in as many games – but St Johnstone found it more of a challenge getting grips with the more robust talents of John Sutton and Michael Ngoo, when the Perth side were beaten by Hearts at Tynecastle in midweek. There are sure to be a few furtive glances made towards the Kilmarnock team sheet this afternoon then, since Sheridan is just as adept at holding the ball up and generally causing a nuisance to opposing defenders."Cillian will probably be involved and obviously Kris Boyd played for the under-20s the other night and they are two physical players," said Callum Davidson, the St Johnstone full-back. "Kilmarnock like to throw it out from the back a little bit more so it will be a different game. We have got to make sure we are up for it and are prepared the best we can be."Despite the setback in Edinburgh during the week, St Johnstone retain a firm grip of a place in the top six and can put some daylight between themselves and Kilmarnock with a win. "The next three games we have got are must-wins," said the defender, whose side are three points ahead of today's opponents "It's about how we bounce back now."

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St Johnstone v Kilmarnock: Boyd casts a long shadow but it is Heffernan who is lighting the way

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