Kilmarnock’s McInnes Urges Patience in Magennis Injury Comeback

Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes has indicated that midfielder Kyle Magennis’s return to consistent first-team action will require patience, despite his valuable qualities for the club. Magennis is progressively nearing a point where he can play regularly. His recent return to the pitch occurred last weekend during the draw against Dundee United, where he appeared as a substitute for the concluding minutes, marking his first game after a year-long absence due to a hamstring injury. Manager McInnes commented on Magennis’s previous struggles, stating, “We’ve all seen him suffer, we’ve seen him pull up in training, we’ve seen him pull up in games and walk away with his head in his hands and [he was] inconsolable really, we’ve seen what he’s been through.” Regarding the decision to play him, McInnes explained, “I put him on ahead of others, not because of sentiment, we needed a result. I think he’s as capable as any of my midfielders are at getting me a goal and bringing a bit of quality, so that was the reason he went on. He was on to do a job and he did his job well.” McInnes further shared his long-standing familiarity with the player, stating, “I’ve watched Kyle since he was a wee boy, he played in the same youth team at St Mirren as my son and I always knew his qualities.” He also revealed a past interest in signing Magennis, adding, “I had an interest in him when I was at Aberdeen and if the circumstance had been right it would have been one I would have liked to have taken.” McInnes candidly remarked on the circumstances of Magennis joining Kilmarnock, saying, “With the greatest respect, the reason we managed to get him at Kilmarnock is because of his injuries.” The manager underscored the necessity of patience, noting that the 26-year-old is not yet training “like most normal footballers.” He elaborated on Magennis’s current regimen, stating, “He trains a day and then he’s a physio the next day, he never does two consecutive days with the team.” McInnes outlined their approach, explaining, “We’re just trying to share the load a wee bit on his body and on his hamstrings to hopefully get us to a stage where he can train two and three days in a row like most normal footballers.” He concluded by highlighting Magennis’s determination and the club’s careful management, saying, “But it’s not through the want of trying, he is desperate to train and play as much as he can. To give him the best chance at that, we’re going to have to be smart and give him the best opportunity.”