Combe has been in brilliant form all season and his eye-catching display at Ibrox would undoubtedly have impressed the watching Scotland manager. Ther keeper kept the match alive with a series of jaw-dropping saves, with his effort to deny Kyrgiakos earning particular acclaim.
The manager deserves some credit for his brave and imaginative tactics against Rangers, deploying James Fowler at the heart of the defence and springing on the counter-attack. If Alex McLeish had asked Ian Durrant for the inside info on Kilmarnock, it's unlikely that the former Killie coach would have come up with this formation.
There aren't many positions in the team that Fowler hasn't filled for Killie. He made his breakthrough as an attacking winger before Bobby Williamson saw his potential at full back where he has fitted in on either wing. He made the right back slot his own until Gordon Greer took precendence and has since played as the central midfield spoiler. He has even played as striker in the Under 21 league. He has proved to be a valuable member of the Killie squad through the last couple of injury-ravaged seasons.
Killie's encouraging performance should hold them in good stead as they go into a crucial series of matches as they continue to chase the top-six finish.