Gary Locke laments ‘nightmare’ Kilmarnock sickness bug

Kilmarnock were able to earn themselves a victory last time out at Hamilton. Picture: SNS

Skipper Mark Connolly and defender Ross Barbour missed the 1-0 win over Hamilton at New Douglas Park on Saturday, while midfielder Craig Slater played through his illness, and they are just three of half a dozen or so  players being monitored.

The Rugby Park club will also be without Jamie Hamill (rib), Scott Robinson (groin), Rory McKenzie (hamstring), Kallum Higginbotham (ankle) and Chris Johnston ( knee ligaments), which leaves Locke’s squad stretched for the journey to Dingwall.

He said: “There is a bit of a sickness bug going through the camp at the moment. A few of the boys pulled out just before the game on Saturday – Barbour and Connolly.

“Slater was struggling but still managed to play. It is a nightmare. You get a positive result and this happens.

“There are a few still struggling at the moment which is causing us a bit of a headache.

“It will be roughly the same squad we had at the weekend.

“You just have to try to get on with it the best we can”

At the same time as Killie were winning for the first time in eight games to take them ten points clear of bottom side Dundee United, the Staggies were thrashing Dundee 5-2 with Liam Boyce helping himself to a hat-trick.

Locke said: “It was a fantastic result for Ross County. Dundee are a good side. To score five goals in any game is a great achievement. They are playing really well and it will be a really difficult game, probably one of the hardest games we could face.”