Magician Taouil Can Get Us Out Of Trouble

Feb 24 2008 By Scott Mcdermott

SIMON FORD believes Moroccan magician Mehdi Taouil can save Kilmarnock's season but fears they will lose him this summer.

The defender is convinced Killie are just about to turn their SPL campaign around.

Despite two defeats against Motherwell and Rangers, Jim Jefferies' side have looked far more like their old selves in the last fortnight.

Ford hopes awin over Aberdeen today will spark a revival and has tipped midfield maverick Taouil - who was superb against Gers - to be the key man.

Simon said: "Mehdi has been great for us. In the Motherwell game where it was tight he'd have been the ideal guy to unlock the door but was injured.

"He has loads of tricks and some of the stuff he comes away with in training is just unbelievable.

"He's also starting to grasp our work ethic. He knows he can't be one of those players always on the edge of games.

"I just hope we can keep Mehdi because his contract is up at the end of the season. In terms of sheer ability he is as good as I've played with.

"Sometimes he needs more of an end product but he thinks so far ahead there are times when you think he has played a bad ball and it's not. It's just he expected a team-mate to be there.

"But his feet are incredible and he plays football like he's having a kick-about in the park which is the way the game should be played."

Killie boss Jefferies has never been able to replace Steven Naismith since the Scotland Under-21 star left for Rangers.

But Ford reckons new recruit Paul Dalglish has the pace and scoring instinct to finally make Ruby Park fans forget about Naisy.

He said: "Paul has looked good and will get sharper with a few games. He has pace and can get in behind people - that's what we have missed since selling Naisy.

"Hopefully Paul can score a few goals for us. Some people have said he is a bit cocky but he seems quite quiet to me even though he got a bit of stick on his first day.

"People think Paul is a replacement for Colin Nish but he's a totally different player. The good thing is he looks hungry to do well and score goals for the club."