Last season, Danny Armstrong emerged from obscurity to become a key figure at Rugby Park. The winger scored 12 goals and contributed 10 assists for his teammates in his most productive year to date.
This time around, Brad Lyons has stepped up to the mantle at Kilmarnock. The 26-year-old has been a revelation in midfield since the final two games of last term. He put in two outstanding performances against Dundee United and Ross County to help ensure the club’s Premiership survival, and he’s not looked back since.
The midfielder has gone from strength to strength – and he’s not finished there. Lyons made his international debut for Northern Ireland on Tuesday night. It’s a moment he describes as the ‘proudest’ of his life. Speaking to him in the days after his bow at Windsor Park for his country, it’s clear what the achievement means to him.
Heading into this season it wasn’t obvious that Lyons was going to be a nailed-on starter despite earning a new two-year deal in Ayrshire. A few eyebrows were raised when he captained the side against Rangers on the opening day. That match exemplified everything he’s about though, and nobody could decry him of the armband in the weeks that followed.
The magnitude of playing for Northern Ireland hasn’t yet entirely sunk in for Lyons, by his own admission. While he can’t stop smiling about the milestone, he insists it’s all eyes on Livingston this afternoon as he gets back to league business with Killie.
"I don't think I can even sum up this season so far on a personal note,” Lyons said. "It is crazy, but that's football at the end of the day. I'm not saying I didn't get my chance last year, but I feel like I've had a proper go at it this year.
"I have stayed injury free and avoided wee niggles so far, that has allowed me to play consistently. When you're starting every game it just comes naturally to you, you love training every day and look forward to every game.
"That's a big factor, I've enjoyed football my whole life but since I joined Kilmarnock I've enjoyed it even more. I have a lot of friends here, I'd even say they're friends outside of football. We are so close now which helps on the pitch.
“We had the first game against San Marino on Saturday and I was a wee bit frustrated that I didn’t feature. We trained on Monday and we were doing a wee bit of shape. I found myself in the starting XI. A few changes were made, but I was always in the starting XI.
“We had a meeting on Tuesday morning and there I was, my face up on the board. I don’t think you could’ve wiped the smile off my face. It was a class moment and one that I’ll never forget. It lived up to my expectations and even more. I had my family and girlfriend in the stands. It was the proudest moment of my life up until now.
“You can get called up for internationals but if you’re not doing it at club level, picking up results and playing well, you won’t get that recognition. I’m thankful to have done it, but the plan is to hopefully kick on and get better results with Kilmarnock and see where it takes me.
“Making your debut, whether it’s coming on or starting is a great feeling, but to get it as a whole start and walking out in front of that crowd at the national stadium, at Windsor Park, singing the national anthem in front of them, it was a really proud moment. It’s one I can’t really describe. I’m still trying to let it settle in.
“Although, I’m not looking back now as I want to concentrate on Saturday. I’ve had a proud moment, yes, but all my focus is on Livingston.”
The former St Mirren player has been vocal about the support he's had from his teammates in previous interviews.
While that certainly hasn't changed, he knew he would count on them to bring him back to the ground with an almighty thud upon his return to Rugby Park after the international break.
He added: “I don’t think there’s any extra responsibility on me. I came in on Thursday morning and they certainly brought me back to earth, don’t worry about that. Mocking my accent from interviews and other things.
“But there’s no extra stress or pressure because I know the squad of players that we’ve got. We have quality from the goalkeeper right to the frontline.
“Say I don’t perform as well as I can, I know players around me will pick up their performances, and vice-versa when other people aren’t performing, I’ll try even harder to help them. I know how good the group of lads in there are.
"My teammates all sent me messages before and after the game, and a lot of them watched the game too. I've said before I wouldn't have got anywhere without them, they boys all have their part to play, they've helped me so much.
"Last season they kept me level-headed and kept me going, the way they've performed this season alongside me makes me want to thank them. My decision to stay is justified now. But that was the gaffer too, he wanted me to stay and gave me the confidence I needed.
"Last season was frustrating, but you see what happens when you work hard. I played well in the last two games of the season and now I've had a good run of games. I love the club, I've always said that I love the community, the fans and the players around me.”
