Jefferies delighted with achievement

Jefferies has guided the Rugby Park outfit into the top six of the SPL for the second successive season, while they also reached last month's CIS Insurance Cup final. Yet many of his key players have endured lengthy spells on the sidelines. David Fernandez has been out since October, goalkeeper Alan Combe did not play until January after battling back from injury, while David Lilley and Danny Invincibile have been out long term. And Jefferies, whose fifth-placed side take on his former club Hearts at Tynecastle on Saturday, hopes Kilmarnock finally receive some credit for once again punching above their weight. He said: "I could name some team from the players I have missing on Saturday, it could be a very strong team. "That is why this squad of players have done fantastically. "Last season we had two or three injuries but nothing excessive, but this year we've done better by getting to a final and being in fifth place. "If we manage to finish fifth it will be fantastic as we are against the top five clubs with the top five resources. For us to be in among them is a fantastic achievement. "We've done this with a number of players out, six or seven players who would command a regular place in the team, and you have to give the rest of the boys credit. "I hope we get the credit. It was fantastic to reach the CIS Cup final but I'd have liked to have been in a better position and had everyone available. "We had a few players in the team who had done great to get there but didn't perform on the day. But we went and tried to win it."