McKinlay: “I’m as strong as I’ve been in a while!”
Defender Kevin McKinlay has declared that he feels as fit as he’s ever been as he continues to prepare for the 2016/17 campaign.
With pre-season beginning in the next week, Kevin revealed “I like to work hard out of football, I enjoy going to the gym and going for runs to keep myself fit.
“I picked up a hamstring tear in the Scottish Cup against Inverness last season with Stirling. I was ruled out for 14-15 weeks, but I had my second scan after eight weeks and the therapists had told me I had recovered well.
“I’d put that down to the strength and conditioning work I’ve been putting in. I’m back running and I feel good to go – I’d go as far as saying I feel the strongest and fittest I have done for a while, so I’m looking forward to pre-season.”
The former Ross County, Partick, Stenhousemuir & Morton man also went on to discuss some of his personal playing preferences.
“I’ve been around a fair few clubs and played a few positions, and in that I’ve had plenty of experience playing as a wing-back, so it’s quite a familiar position to myself.
“I’d say my preferred position is either left-back or left wing-back. I enjoy the challenge of playing as a wing-back as I see myself as a ball-player, I like getting on the ball and enjoy the chance to get forward.
“But I also enjoy playing in a system that employs wing-backs because of the tactical versatility it allows. A 3-5-2 can easily be switched to a 5-3-2 so it adds that extra security for us.”
With the former Bino clearly having his eyes set on the left wing-back slot at Shielfield this season, he also went on to admit it wasn’t just the promise of playing in his favoured position that persuaded him to join the club.
“I met up with John prior to joining and he sold his vision to me. We hit it off really, I was impressed with what he had to say and I felt it matched what I wanted to do.
“He’s enthusiastic but straight to the point. I like that and I felt that’s what I want from a manager.
“I wouldn’t have joined a club that lacks ambition. After speaking with John it became clear I could play a part in a team that has a lot of desire, and I felt I could fit into that.
“On a personal level, my only target is to help make this as successful a season for the club as possible. I want to play as many games as possible and I’d love to see us make the play-offs.
“I feel I’m at the peak of my career having just turned 30, but I also feel I’ve got a bit of a point to prove having been injured last season.
“That said, I’m confident in my own ability and I think the fans will see that, so I think I’ll do well with the club.”
Kevin’s kit is now available to sponsor on our new official club store. Full kit sponsorship costs £80 with both Home and Away kits available. Sponsors will see their name featured on player profile pages within our award-winning match programme and on our official website, and will also receive a signed image of the player in their kit.
To sponsor Kevin, click here.
