Could these Killie youth players be ready to step up to the first team?

Derek McInnes has mounting injury concerns, and there are some standouts in the Under-18 and reserve sides

There can’t be many clubs in Scotland with a better record of developing young players than Kilmarnock.

From Kris Boyd and Steven Naismith; through Matty Kennedy, Rory McKenzie and Mark O’Hara; all the way to Bobby Wales and David Watson in the current squad, youth development has always been a big strength.

Recently Chris Burke’s Under-18 side have been winning admirers for their fluent, attacking football and over the last couple of years we’ve seen the likes of Manchester City and Newcastle pluck players from the youth system.

With a well-documented injury crisis affecting the squad, is there anyone Derek McInnes might deem ready to be involved with the first team in the coming games?

Here are four players who could be ready to make the step up.

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