Why Bobby Wales has to start on Boxing Day

The youngster has earned the chance to show what he can do against Aberdeen

Perhaps the closest Derek McInnes has come to open revolt from the Rugby Park stands came when he chose to substitute Bobby Wales following an early red card against Hearts.

Sure, there were grumblings in the lowest points of the first season back in the top flight, but by and large the manager has carried the support with him since he arrived in Ayrshire.

When the youngster was taken off for Fraser Murray though there was audible booing and chanting of Wales’ name, and while McInnes was ultimately vindicated in his decision it showed the clamour for the academy kid to be given more time.

With a run of festive games coming up and Marley Watkins struggling with an injury, he should be given the chance to start on Boxing Day.

---

Read More:

• Motherwell 1 Kilmarnock 1: Five Talking points and reaction from the gaffer

• Derek McInnes made the unpopular decisions against Hearts and was vindicated

• Four months of the Killie Chronicle: What we do & why you should sign-up

---

Perhaps part of the frustration for fans is that while Wales is still only 19, he’s been flagged as a rising star for quite some time.

A childhood Killie fan, he joined the academy setup from Hurlford Boys’ Club in 2015 when he was just nine and has represented Scotland at under-17, under-18 and under-19 level.

The 2023-24 season saw him score a combined 25 goals for the reserve and development squads, including two in the final as Kilmarnock won the SPFL Reserve Cup.

Wales made his senior debut as a late substitute for Ash Taylor in a 1-0 defeat to St Johnstone in October 2022, with his first start coming at Tynecastle later that season, but it was clear that he had some maturing to do, both in terms of his game and in a physical sense.