DANIEL ARMSTRONG is taking his chance at Kilmarnock while he can.
The attacker has started in all of Killie’s Premier Sports Cup games so far, scoring last time out against Montrose.
The former Wolves academy star penned a two-year contract at Rugby Park last summer under Tommy Wright.
While getting a decent amount of game time under his belt during the early stages of the campaign, it would be fair to say the 24-year-old didn’t get a sustained run in the team.
Ahead of today’s group decider against Stenhousemuir, Armstrong is determined to keep his place – as he vows to prove he’s got what it takes to compete in the Premiership in the weeks to come.
He said: “I was delighted to get my first competitive goal of the season at Montrose last weekend. I had another couple of chances before and after it but it was just good to see the ball go in the net.
“There are certain targets I want to hit but I’ll keep them private. However, any wide player should be looking to hit a certain number of goals as well as providing so many assists and I’ll do my best to keep chipping away at that.
“I can play on either flank: it’s just a matter of adapting my game. I also enjoy the wing-back role which I’ve been fulfilling this season because it lets me do some defensive work as well as providing me with opportunities to get forward.
“It was difficult with so many good players here plus we were winning most weeks and the important thing for the club was getting out of the Championship, not me playing regularly.
“While the boys were doing the business, I’d still do all I could to help by coming on as a substitute or trying to make an impact when I did start.
“I’m hoping for more chances this season because I believe I’m capable of scoring and creating goals for the team. I helped Ross County win promotion before and I was in and around the Premiership with Hamilton without actually getting a game so I’m looking forward to taking any opportunity that comes along.
“As players you want to have cup runs and they’re also massive for the club in every respect. Getting to Hampden is important because everyone wants to be involved in big games.
“Qualifying from the group stage is important. Some people look on these games as if they’re not important but they are. We want to go as far as we can in this competition: apart from anything else, it would give us momentum to take into the league campaign.”
Meanwhile, Derek McInnes has questioned whether the SPFL are allowing the League Cup to flourish while in its current state.
He explained: “I don’t think we’re giving the League Cup its best platform coming in at this stage of the season. We know once you get through the group stages and the draw is made, it does start to feel like a proper cup competition again.
“At the minute, it still has that pre-season feel about it. That’s a danger for us as professionals.
“I don’t think all of the punters turn up for it. If you look at some of the attendances around Scotland. People are still on holiday. Part-time players are still on holiday. Teams are still trying to get their squads together.
“A lot of managers have said they’re using it as pre-season. Clubs like ours can’t do that.
“It’s such an important competition for us. We’ve got to feel that we can go far in it.”
Killie will be without Zach Hemming, Blair Alston, Chris Stokes, Fraser Murray, Liam Donnelly, Kyle Lafferty and Scott Robinson for the game.
It’s expected that Murray, Donnelly and Lafferty will be fit to face Dundee United.
