Erik Ring, Kilmarnock's new winger, is determined to make his mark in Scotland after sharing a dressing room with Celtic legends in Sweden. The 24-year-old signed a two-year deal with Kilmarnock this summer, joining from League One champions Lincoln City, and has been handed the No.8 jersey by manager Neil McCann.
Celtic connections
Ring played alongside former Celtic favourite Mikael Lustig at AIK in Stockholm, and Lustig's tales of Scottish football helped convince Ring to make the move. "He shared some stories on how it is and hearing that back then gave me a good feeling about Scotland overall. I knew there was good quality and big teams here," Ring said.
Ring also knows Benjamin Nygren, who scored 21 goals last season for Kilmarnock, from their time together in the Sweden Under-21s. "We played for the Under-21 national team together and he's always been really good," Ring added. "We'll have to try to stop him scoring, he's a good player so he's always finding solutions."
Grass pitch debut
Kilmarnock's Rugby Park will debut its new hybrid grass pitch on Sunday, the first of its kind in Scotland, a system used by Premier League clubs like Chelsea and Aston Villa, as well as Real Madrid. Ring is excited about the change from the club's previous plastic surface. "That was the first thing they told me... we're changing it to grass!" he said.
Ring's parents have already traveled to Scotland to watch him play against the champions. "I know a few guys who have played in Scotland," he said. "But the first time I spoke to Neil and Kilmarnock, it just felt right so I didn't feel I needed to speak to more people."
Versatile winger
Ring has already been asked to play at right-back, a role he's adapting to with help from his teammates. "The centre-backs have been helping me defensively because I get into situations where I'm not really used to be," he explained. "I didn't know before I came here (the manager was a winger) but I know now what he did as a player and he's given me tips on what to do in certain situations."
