Derek McInnes says he isn’t going to moan about being in European competition, even though the demands of playing twice a week at this point of the season meant he had to field a weakened team in the defeat to Celtic.
McInnes was without Robbie Deas through suspension and a whole host of other first team regulars through injury, and he also decided to rotate his side for the league clash at Celtic Park with the first leg of their Conference League qualifier against Tromso on Thursday at Rugby Park in mind.
The Killie manager admits it will be difficult to navigate these next few weeks as he juggles his squad and the dual demands of European and domestic football, but he is happy to have the headache.
"The circumstances in which we came into the game meant it was always going to be difficult,” McInnes said.
“We don’t want to bleat on too much about that because obviously, it is a fallout from being in Europe. We don’t have the biggest squad as it is, but when you’ve got five starters not in your team, a club like us feels that at times.
"We had a makeshift back four with young Ollie (Bainbridge) at 19 playing in his first senior game. He battled away manfully. You never really know how they’ll cope, but we always liked the look of him, and we thought he had talent. I thought he stuck to his task.
"So, I’m glad we’ve come through the game without any injuries. I’m never going to celebrate losing 4-0 at any time but it was always going to be the most difficult game for us coming back from an away game in Belgium.
“Cercle Brugge really worked us. They’re a physical team. Our running stats were outrageous from both games. I was always a bit concerned about asking boys to go in again. With the team that we put out, we tried to utilise the squad.
"We now go Thursday-Sunday, Thursday-Sunday in the next couple of weeks and we could do with getting a few away from the physio table and back available for us. I think we’ll be stronger in terms of team selection on Thursday, and then when we play Celtic again the next time that comes around. There was still a lot from the game that I can be pleased about.
"The boys will get a day off [on Monday], we’ll see where we are on Tuesday, and I can’t wait for Thursday. I want us to enjoy that us a club.
“It’s something that’s new to us to play in Europe and try to navigate these early rounds domestically, but I don’t want Europe just to be these next two games. I want us to get through this tie, and Thursday is important. The team picked today was with that in mind."
Corrie Ndaba, who returned to Killie on a permanent three-year deal this week after a successful loan spell last season, may be able to play some part in the tie against Tromso.
“Corrie will miss Thursday and Sunday, but we’ve registered him for the European squad ideally for the second leg against Tromso,” McInnes said.
