Greg Kiltie could not feel his foot for a couple of minutes during Saturday's draw with Hearts after taking a bang on a nerve. The Kilmarnock midfielder recovered to help secure a fourth point from two games and believes the side are ready to kick on.
Nerve Scare in Opening Minutes
Kiltie crumpled in the opening 10 minutes of the match but played a part in the battling draw. He said: “Yeah, I hit my nerve. I couldn’t feel my foot for a couple of minutes. It’s the first time that’s happened! I had to look down to see where my foot was.
“It was a dangerous attack, but I actually couldn’t run because I didn’t know where my foot was, which was a bit mental. I’m glad it was that and nothing more serious. Your head starts to go all places when you can’t feel your foot!
“I didn’t even know there was a nerve there. It’s just like behind your knee if you kick it. I just couldn’t feel it right up to my toes. But I’m all good.”
Four Points from Two Games
As a local, Kiltie has felt the frustration of fans stronger than most with Kilmarnock bottom of the Premiership table. The draw at home to Hearts followed a superb 1-0 win at Hibs four days earlier.
Kiltie said: “We knew within ourselves that we had to put some performances in to give the fans something to cheer about. Living locally, you’ve always got everybody on to you about getting a result. It’s part and parcel. I probably care, not too much, but maybe more than some because of that.
“We’re sitting here and we’ve taken four points from the last two games, so we’re positive. Last Saturday night after losing on penalties to Aberdeen was obviously a downer, but it’s nice that we can show as a team that we can bounce back from that. It wasn’t what we wanted.
“Everything’s positive and pointing in the right direction. We’re showing as a team that we’re going in the right direction from where we were earlier in the season.”
New Faces Settling In
Kiltie said the gaffer had noted big changes with many players leaving and coming in. He added: “You don’t think it at the time. You think everybody should just step in and be ready to play, but sometimes it doesn’t work like that. We’ve had players coming to a new club, so hopefully they’re settling in a bit better now.”
Hull City loanee Cathal McCarthy, a 20-year-old Irishman who played on loan at University College Dublin last season, has been a defensive rock against Hibs and Hearts. Kiltie said: “Macka has been outstanding, honestly outstanding. He had just turned 20 when he first arrived but he’s just slotted in there as if he’s been playing there for a while.
“I’ve not got high enough praise for him. Him and George {Stanger}, there’s been a settled partnership since Deasy {Robbie Deas} got hurt and they’ve been really good together.”
International Break Timing
The three-week international break has given Kiltie and his team mates a chance to catch breath, but the 31-year-old admits it might have arrived at the wrong time. Next up is a trip to Ibrox on October 10.
Kiltie said: “There’s been a couple of times this season when we’ve had a chance to go and build momentum and then had a free week after that. At any point we’ve kind of built something, the break has probably come at the wrong time.
“We’ve just got to get back at it straight after the break and take these performances with us. I think we’ve really found ourselves in a much better place as a team and in how we’re playing. Hopefully it shows on the pitch, but it certainly feels like it out there.”
