Kris Boyd: Penny has finally dropped for Jordan Jones

Kris Boyd is tipping Jordan Jones to be the catalyst for Kilmarnock's renaissance under new manager Steve Clarke but admits the in-form Rugby Park attacker used to frustrate his team-mates.

Kilmarnock's Jordan Jones. Picture: Rob Casey/SNS

Jones flattered to deceive when he first arrived from Middlesbrough last season as invariably he had no end product.

Now Boyd thinks the pacy winger has the talent to go far in the game and can help Killie climb the table, despite Tuesday’s 3-0 defeat by Hibs.

The veteran striker said: “When he came up here at first he had all the tricks and flicks, which probably a lot of academy kids in England have got.

“We were trying to play him in a wide role where he would take people on but there was no end product.

“I think Lee McCulloch started the process by talking to him on a daily basis and showing him what needs to be done and the gaffer has come in and done the same.

“But I think the biggest thing is that he’s started to listen to his team-mates.

“When you’ve got that talent, it sometimes annoys the life out of others when you do nothing with it.

“We can now see what he’s doing. He’s creating umpteen chances and over the last month he has been excellent.

“I think the penny has finally dropped about what he can do and what he can achieve in the game.

“He has been called up to the Northern Ireland squad so he could he could be on the verge of a World Cup team.

“So he has to keep his focus because we all like to see that talent and hopefully it will take him to a high level in the game.”

Killie are smarting after the 3-0 defeat by Hibs when they played well in spells but couldn’t score.

Unusually – following such a heavy defeat – they were cheered off by their supporters who clearly believe there is something happening under Clarke.

Boyd added: “We controlled the majority of the second half and if we had got a goal just after half-time it would probably have been a different game.

“The fans have had a bit of frustration the last few years and you can see why. When you’re paying money to watch a product on the pitch that hasn’t been good enough then I can understand why they have been frustrated.

“However, the numbers on a Champions League night were excellent and I think they saw the effort that we were putting in.

“Hopefully with the gaffer coming in it shows the board have got a vision and that they want to take the club forward.

“Now we look to Hearts a Murrayfield on Sunday and hopefully win three points.”