Kyle Vassell admits he’d love to stay at Kilmarnock beyond the summer.
The well-travelled striker signed a short-term deal with the Ayrshire club in January until the end of the season.
It took him time to get up to match sharpness, but the former Blackpool and Rotherham forward has proved in recent weeks that he can be a useful player for Derek McInnes’ men.
Vassell won the penalty last Saturday which sparked Killie’s 2-1 comeback win over Hearts at Rugby Park. It was a vital three points picked up as they steered themselves six points clear of bottom club Dundee United in the ongoing relegation battle.
He was a constant nuisance throughout for the Jambos’ centre-backs and has caused similar bother for St Johnstone and Motherwell’s defenders too.
All that was missing from his performance was a goal, to add to his tally of two so far in a Killie jersey.
He may not be prolific, but he’s certainly effective. And the 30-year-old would be pleased to extend his Killie journey.
“It is a lot different to America where the ball is on the floor a lot more and is more technical,” Vassell said as he praised Scottish football. “I enjoy the pressure here and it is proper games of football with proper fans.
“If we do something wrong I feel the fans have the right to tell us in the right way. I don't mind that.
READ MORE: Kilmarnock to train on grass pitches at Largs ahead of Aberdeen clash
“I’m a physical player and I enjoy Scottish football. There are a lot of players who couldn't play up here in this league. It would be too physical for them.
“I am having so much fun up here and I would love to stay here. As a footballer, I have aspirations to play at as high a level as I can.
“I want to get back in the national team so the manager will look at what league you are playing in. That is very important at my age but I do want to stay here.”
Killie make the long journey north this afternoon to face Aberdeen. The Ayrshire club have endured a dismal away record this campaign, picking up just two points in total on the road.
In the last game Killie won on their travels, Dundee United in the Scottish Cup, Vassell scored the winner. The Northern Ireland international will be hoping he can repeat the feat for Killie today.
He said: “It is frustrating, and it is hard to find out the reason why. We work our socks off and it is hard when we don't win away more often.
“We have won at Dundee United and Hearts in the cup. It is not for the lack of effort and not for the lack of effort. As long as we can keep being solid there is the belief there.
“Saturday was the most comfortable I've felt as a Kilmarnock player in a game. I’m happy here and I feel it was a great decision to come here.
“It’s not fun being in a relegation battle, it’s not fun having so much pressure on every point.
“But the gaffer has been brilliant at mitigating the pressure and letting us get on with it. He has tried to take the pressure off so we can play freely.
“The gaffer makes it clear what he wants and if you watch some of our training sessions, they are unbelievable. It is about putting that together and doing it on the pitch.”
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