Kilmarnock’s 19-year-old central midfielder Craig Slater was picked as the SPFL Young Player of the Month for January after an impressive spell deep in the engine room of the Rugby Park side.
Slater said: “I had been hoping to get myself established in the Kilmarnock first team this season and hopefully I have done that now. I wanted to try and get some games under my belt and held the team do well and get some wins.”
“It has worked out pretty well and we managed to get a few wins together and I have picked up this award which is fantastic.”
Slater, who was a substitute when Kilmarnock opened their season with a 2-1 defeat at Aberdeen in August before becoming a regular in late autumn is delighted to be recognised saying: “When you are coming in to the first team you are simply just trying to take your chance and make an impact. This is my most consistent run of games and it is nice that people have been complimentary about my performances.”
“I know that I will have to work hard and keep my level of performances high. Getting this award is terrific and hopefully my good form will continue. The manager Allan Johnston has been great with me.”
Johnston is not alone in helping the 19-year-old as Slater explained: “He has told me to be confident and play my own game. Afterwards he will give me a few pointers as well. Other players have been good and they have kept me working hard and keeping my feet on the ground.”
“Everyone has kept me on my toes and it is terrific that the manger has kept me in the team and I want to repay him with good performances.”
Those good performances may just have a touch of three other midfield players in them as Slater explained: “I was influenced by Steven Gerrard a lot and I enjoyed watched him when I was younger. I tried to base my game on him and the way that he would dominate games in the Premiership.”
“Gerrard’s pass against Fulham last week was a terrific one – a great pass and a great player. Closer to home I watched Barry Ferguson a lot at Rangers. He had fantastic composure on the ball and I play with my head up as he does but that is how I have developed as opposed to deliberately copying anyone.”
“You need awareness and Barry had that as does Darren Fletcher. It is good to be compared in that way.”
There is one huge local influence as well with Slater saying: “I enjoy working with Alexei Eremenko. Everyone has had a lift since he came in as his technique on the ball is second to none. He does things on the ball that are unbelievable and he has been a real boost to the team.”
“It is great to work alongside him. He is getting fitter all the time.”
Slater and the rest of the Killie kids have been patient this season to get in the first team and get the chance to play with the Finnish playmaker. The midfielder explained: “Earlier in the season the manager was just in the door and he brought a few new players in with him. Maybe some of the younger boys did not play then but he was still watching our training and giving us encouragement.”
“He was telling us that there was chance to progress to the first team. A few other boys and myself worked hard and we got that chance. Even when we were not playing the manager was motivating us to get into the team.”
When Slater got in he found himself keeping out a player who could be going to Brazil this summer to compete in football’s biggest prize. Nigerian international Gabriel Reuben complained about not playing and that his absence from the Kilmarnock team was harming his World Cup chances and Manager Johnston said that Craig Slater was ahead of him in the queue.
The youngster said: “That was brilliant to hear as he is the one you have to impress. Keeping my place ahead of some experienced players has been terrific for me and hopefully I can continue to do that. “
“A few of the younger boys have been given a chance by the manager and that is very encouraging for all the young players at the club.”
Despite his age Slater has not been shielded from dressing room banter as he explained: “When the boys found out I was coming for this award I was getting pelters for it. Kris Boyd and Michael Gardyne were handing out the laughs. They don’t let you get carried away.”
“Craig Samson was at St. Mirren with me before and he is another one that gives you plenty of banter. I was pleased when he came to Kilmarnock as he is a real character about the dressing room. It is nice to hear that he has been saying good things about me as well as giving me stick.”
Slater wants to hang around for more stick as he advised: “It has been brilliant to have played as much as I have and hopefully I can stay in the team for the rest of the season. There have been a few of us coming through at the same time and that helps.”
“You don’t view it as that much of a step up if you are playing with players you know from the under-20’s. The experienced players have been great with us so there is a great blend.”
“I am pleased with my own form and I would like to say I have done well myself but this has been an effort from all the players at Kilmarnock. Our next aim is to move up the table a bit.”
Slater’s mention of St. Mirren is worthy of further note as he was with the Paisley side for a decade before leaving just over two years ago as he had fallen out of love with the club.
“Basically I asked to leave St. Mirren with a year left of my contract,” said Slater before adding: “They were quite happy to terminate my contract as well. I had a short spell training at Rangers and that never worked out either.”
“Obviously it is a worry when you leave and are not contracted anywhere else. It can be hard to get a foot in the door but I was still confident in my own ability and that if I got into places to train I would impress.”
“I came in to Kilmarnock and Allan Robertson gave me a chance. I am really enjoying my football there. I was sure that if I worked hard I would be okay but there is a slight nagging doubt at the back of your mind.”
Slater added: “Thankfully things have worked out for me. It was a bold move to make just before Christmas and it was only 6 month contracts being offered out to players. I had to be confident that I could do a job on the pitch and thankfully that has turned out to be the case.”
