Corrie Ndaba might just be Kilmarnock's most important player

If the defender isn't the first name on the team sheet he must be close

You need only have heard the dozens of renditions of ‘Tequila’ last season to know that Corrie Ndaba was one of Killie’s most popular players.

A mainstay of the side which qualified for the Europa League last season, the defender returned on a permanent deal from Ipswich Town in the summer, much to the delight of fans.

Carrying a knock when he arrived, the 24-year-old has firmly established himself playing a versatile role on the left of defence and as well as being one of the most popular players he’s arguably the most important.

There are other players who would have a claim to that - Stuart Findlay for one, certainly Matty Kennedy so far this season - but there’s little doubt that Ndaba is one of the first names on the team sheet.

We’ve taken a deeper look at Ndaba to highlight why he’s so important to Derek McInnes.

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The Irishman has always had versatility as a key component of his game, and was initially recruited by Ipswich from Dublin side Cherry Orchard as a central midfielder before being converted into a defender.

While he had the height and pace required for his new role, it was a loan spell at Ayr United which helped Ndaba to adjust to the physical side of things.

He told the Training 121 podcast: “I remember I didn’t really want to go, then I went and I enjoyed it. It was a real physical league.

“I think being a young defender that’s good for you, you need that exposure to aggressive battles.

“Coming through the academies it’s a lot more technical, so that was good for me. I went in January and the manager (Mark Kerr) tried to play a little bit but then he got sacked and another manager (David Hopkin) came in.

“I always tried to play out a bit, and I remember him coming into the changing room and pointing at me saying, ‘you: I see all those Cruyff turns. None of that s***, just put it in the channel.”