LEE HODSON lifted the first silverware of his career in May after the full-back played an important role as Derek McInnes’ Kilmarnock sealed the Championship title. Now that he finds himself back in the second tier a few months later, he has designs on finishing the campaign with another winner’s medal draped around his neck.
The 30-year-old wasn’t surprised when McInnes elected to strengthen his squad for a tilt at the top flight during the close season and the defender says that he made the decision to depart on loan in search of game-time.
Hodson has faced off against Thistle on plenty of occasions as a player and was left impressed by the Jags’ performance when the two sides met recently in the group stages of the Premier Sports Cup, where Ian McCall’s side triumphed on penalties with the game tied at 1-1 after 90 minutes.
“It’s a club that has always competed in this league,” Hodson, who has agreed an initial loan until January, said. “I played against them in the cup this season at Rugby Park and they played well.
“The manager spoke to me a few times and it’s nice when a manager wants you to come to his club. I wanted to come somewhere that would be up the top of the table and to be part of a good squad is huge.”
“Last season was great; winning the title with Kilmarnock,” Hodson continued. “I’d had one promotion before as runners-up with MK Dons but to go up as champions was a fantastic feeling.
“Everyone expected us to win the league and as players we knew that was the only option for the club. When it happened we were all delighted, not for ourselves but for the club and the fans.
“It had been a difficult season the year before being relegated so to win it was one of the best moments and feelings of my career. Hopefully we can replicate that again this season.
“We have a fantastic squad, a lot of talented boys, good staff and manager but it is a difficult league and we know that. We have to take it one game at a time and hopefully come the end of the season we will have a positive outcome.”
Hodson is no spring chicken but he still has a few years left in the tank before he has to seriously consider retirement. After featuring heavily as Killie sealed their return to the Premiership at the first time of asking – the full-back finished the season with 18 league appearances under his belt – he knows that he doesn’t have too many campaigns left in his career, and as such is keen to make the most of his twilight years.
“It was always going to be a difficult season for me [at Killie],” Hodson explained. “The manager at Kilmarnock brought in a few boys in the summer and he wanted to strengthen the squad for going back into the Premiership. At the start of the season I wasn’t on the bench for the first game then made it among the subs for the Rangers game.
“At my age I just want to play football and the opportunity came up, I spoke to the Kilmarnock manager and we agreed it would be best for me to get out and get games. I’m not someone who is happy to be on the bench or sitting in the stand doing nothing. I want to play.
“I’m 31 this year and I want to play as many games as I can. You never know how long you have left when you get past 30. I never expect to walk into a team, wherever you go you have to prove yourself. I want to play and enjoy myself here and hopefully I can do that.”
