McInnes urges caution as Magennis steps up injury comeback

Derek McInnes says Kyle Magennis' quality can be key for Kilmarnock but knows a return to the midfielder playing regularly will take time.

Magennis made his comeback from a year out with a hamstring injury when he came off the bench for the final few minutes in last weekend's draw at Dundee United.

"We've all seen him suffer, we've seen him pull up in training, we've seen him pull up in games and walk away with his head in his hands and [he was] inconsolable really, we've seen what he's been through," said manager McInnes.

"I put him on ahead of others, not because of sentiment, we needed a result. I think he's as capable as any of my midfielders are at getting me a goal and bringing a bit of quality, so that was the reason he went on. He was on to do a job and he did his job well.

"I've watched Kyle since he was a wee boy, he played in the same youth team at St Mirren as my son and I always knew his qualities.

"I had an interest in him when I was at Aberdeen and if the circumstance had been right it would have been one I would have liked to have taken.

"With the greatest respect, the reason we managed to get him at Kilmarnock is because of his injuries."

McInnes was keen to emphasise patience is needed as the 26-year-old is still not training "like most normal footballers".

He added: "He trains a day and then he's a physio the next day, he never does two consecutive days with the team.

"We're just trying to share the load a wee bit on his body and on his hamstrings to hopefully get us to a stage where he can train two and three days in a row like most normal footballers.

"But it's not through the want of trying, he is desperate to train and play as much as he can. To give him the best chance at that, we're going to have to be smart and give him the best opportunity."