Gary Locke backs Dale Carrick to star at Kilmarnock

Dale Carrick has struggled with injuries for the past 18 months. Picture: Ian Georgeson

The 21-year-old joined from Hearts during the summer after enduring an injury plagued year at Tynecastle, subsequently missing most of the Gorgie Road side’s Championship winning campaign.

He was allowed to leave in the summer and decided to join his former Hearts boss at Rugby Park.

Unfortunately, Carrick was struck down by a hamstring injury just 45 minutes into his debut.

It was the same sort of injury which ruined his last 12 months in Edinburgh, but Locke is confident he will bounce back and show the Kilmarnock fans his worth.

He said: “Dale is starting to look good. He has been on the bench for the last couple of games so I hope to see the best out of him in the coming months.”

Carrick netted six goals in 15 starts in his last year in the Ladbrokes Premiership. He made only eight appearances in total last season, including a short loan spell at Raith Rovers.