You can't win anything with kids – so the old saying goes anyway.
But Alex Dyer is hoping to blow that theory completely out of the water.
The Kilmarnock boss has endured his most testing spell as gaffer with his entire first-team squad forced into self-isolation.
He took the decision to forfeit last Tuesday's Betfred Cup clash with Falkirk as he says it wouldn't be fair to expect a full team of Under-18s to compete at senior level.
But for tonight's game against Dunfermline he has up to five senior players to choose from, and as far as Dyer is concerned it's game on.
The Rugby Park boss has been working hard since the players have been off as he hasn't been forced to isolate due to not coming into close contact with the players in training.
And he will be in the dugout for tonight's game.
He said: “It's strange having no players. We knew it wasn’t forever but it is weird when you have to shut the club down. It was the right thing to do to try and stop the spread of the virus.
“Hopefully by the middle of this week most, if not all, the players will be back. We just try to prepare for the game at the weekend. Obviously we have the Dunfermline game first which we are going to fulfil.
“Three of the boys that tested positive first trained Sunday and Monday. Hopefully they get through that and if they do then we can play the game with some of the kids.”
“The first three (to test positive) are available. Plus there’s another lad who is okay to play and also another one. So I can have five senior boys against Dunfermline.”
“That’s important to help the kids along. I stick to my decision from last week. I think it was the right decision. It was always about the young lads.
“Hopefully they will go on and be good professionals but at this present time it wouldn’t be right to put 11 of them into a senior game. If, come Wednesday, these five lads are ok then at least I know I will have four or five and that will help the kids.
“It’s still going to be a tall order but at least they get some help."
He added: “There’s not a big pool of players. I choose which ones are best prepared for it with the help of the youth coaches. I trained with them the last few days. They are good kids. They are all hungry and want to play.
“Hopefully they’ll be ok on the pitch.”
