With Scotland’s spot at next summer’s World Cup now safely secured — it was never in doubt, was it? — domestic action will take centre stage once again this weekend.
Football managers tend to respond to the prospect of international breaks in different ways. For some, they are an inconvenience. An unwelcome interruption which can halt any momentum which may have been building.
Back in November 2021, Jurgen Klopp went as far as to say he ‘hated’ them. His blunt assessment was heavily influenced, mind you, by the fact that several of his Liverpool stars came back from that particular break with injuries, Scotland skipper Andy Robertson being one of them. His irritation was understandable.
For others, however, a pause in proceedings can often come at exactly the right moment. Just ask Stuart Kettlewell.
The last time the Kilmarnock boss welcomed his international players back to Rugby Park, his side were flying high in the Scottish Premiership, with just one defeat to their name — in controversial circumstances, it must be said — against Celtic.
Five defeats on the bounce have followed, thus piling the pressure on Kettlewell.
Kilmarnock manager Stuart Kettlewell is under pressure following a five-match losing run
Killie’s last Premiership victory win came at home against St Mirren back in early October
Eddie Beach has been filling in for the absent Max Stryjek in goal over the past month
He was always going to have his work cut out to win over the Killie supporters, whose reaction to his appointment as Derek McInnes’ successor at the end of last season was lukewarm at best.
To his credit, he did a fine job of getting them on side thanks to a positive start. McInnes got no shortage of grief from the punters regarding his style of play, and there were a few signs early on that things would be a little different under Kettlewell’s stewardship.
But the wheels have fallen off. Defensively, they have been dreadful of late. Hearts took three off them without much fuss last month, as did Rangers.
The majority of the seven goals given up in their last two fixtures against Falkirk (3) and Celtic (4) were avoidable too. They are simply far too easy to get at these days. Far too prone to shooting themselves in the foot.
Kettlewell knows this, of course. You can feel his frustration building with each passing week.
He hasn’t been helped by the loss of experienced goalkeeper Max Stryjek, who quickly established himself as a key figure following his arrival over the summer before an anomaly found during a routine medical test saw his season cut short.
Eddie Beach and Tobi Oluwayemi— brought in on an emergency loan from Celtic — have both had worn the gloves in recent weeks, with neither inspiring much in the way of confidence.
Beach will likely get a decent run in the team for the rest of 2025, at least. But a new shot-stopper must be at the top of Kettlewell’s January wish list.
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Midfielder David Watson is attracting plenty of suitors after making a strong start to the season
Craig Gordon on loan perhaps? That move would suit both parties, though Hearts’ might have something to say about that.
Until then, the manager must make do with what he’s got. And that goes for every area of the team. There are issues to solve across the board.
Up front, Marcus Dackers has proven to be a handful, but there’s no doubt he needs to add goals to his game. One in 12 appearances isn’t good enough. And with Djenairo Daniels sidelined for the rest of the campaign, Dackers needs to shoulder more of the responsibility.
Kettlewell could also do with David Watson rediscovering his early season form if he is to turn Killie’s fortunes around.
The talented midfielder — who is out of contract next summer — has been linked with a host of clubs both at home and abroad, and is destined for big things.
Given the way things have been going, the next few weeks present a perfect chance for him to show what he can do in testing circumstances, and perhaps even add to his growing list of suitors.
In Kettlewell, the youngster at least has someone who is willing to give him the opportunity to do that.
The next couple of fixtures are huge for both Killie’s season and indeed their manager’s future, and it starts this afternoon with the visit of his former club Motherwell to Ayrshire.
Kettlewell will take on his former side Motherwell at Rugby Park on Saturday afternoon
It’s safe to say Kettlewell’s time at Fir Park ended rather unceremoniously. The 41-year-old was — quite rightly — unwilling to accept the level of vitriol coming his way from the stands amid a poor run of results last season, and took the decision to step down from his position after two years at the helm.
His comments in the aftermath of his departure didn’t sit well with the supporters, many of whom would happily see him fall flat on his face at their Premiership rivals.
Kettlewell’s problem now is that fans of his new employers are starting to get a little restless too, understandably so given their team sit just two points off Livingston at the foot of the table heading in to this weekend.
No one is calling for the manager’s head at this stage, but with trips to Tynecastle, Pittodrie — and a home clash against Rangers — to come before Christmas, some points against the Steelmen and Dundee United over the next seven days would be handy to have in the back pocket.
