Brad Lyons: Killie relishing busy festive period

Brad Lyons insists Kilmarnock’s squad are relishing a busy festive period.

The midfielder, who has been a regular starter in the side this season, says a hectic run – which includes 5 home games in the next 7 – is exactly what they should be hoping for as they bid to climb the league table.

Hearts visit Ayrshire on Sunday to kick off that run after their trip to Copenhagen as Killie look to build on their stoppage-time equaliser at Tannadice last week.

Lyons said: “The mood in the camp is positive, any time we have a home game, we know what we can do out there.

“We’ve done our homework on Hearts, we know they have quality on their team, but we back ourselves against anyone at Rugby Park.

“Having this run of home games looming is massive. I think it’s massive for the whole club, and the fans, who get right behind us and support us, we like to try and impress them and that pushes us on as well.

“So it’s important for all of us, and if we get that home form right, then after December, January time, we should be right up there.

“I think that December is probably the first month that can properly define your season, because if you do start winning, you start building momentum and games come thick and fast, which is quality as a player.

“That’s what we want. We don’t want to be training all the time. We want to be playing games.

“Sunday is all we’re focused on right now. Hopefully we get the three points and then we can build momentum off that. That would be tremendous.”

Meanwhile, Lyons admits he’s been working on his own game and is aiming to improve on a personal level.

He said: I think I could do a lot better in terms of my stats. As a midfielder, you look at how many goal contributions you either score or assist, and I haven’t brought that enough to the team.

“Obviously, I got a silly red card away to Aberdeen, but me personally, I’m trying to build on last season after the injury.

“I’m trying to focus with the coaches, looking at clips, analysing myself and trying to push on.

“I’ve just got to focus on myself, hopefully help the team boost up the league, and then that can only benefit myself as well.

“The manager wants to get that bit extra out of me. We’re always talking and he always says, if you want to take your game to the next level, then adding goals is the main thing.

“But overall I feel like my game is in a good place. You can always get better. But if I want to take my performance to the next level, it’s starting to add things to my game.”