Bruce Anderson admits he did have options to go to England upon the expiry of his contract at Livingston.

With Derek McInnes chasing him to sign for Kilmarnock though, there was only ever going to be one outcome.

The striker signed a two-year deal with the Rugby Park outfit in June. He’s their only new signing of the summer so far, with the likes of Stuart Findlay, Marley Watkins and Liam Polworth among others extending their stays.

David Martindale claimed in a broadcast interview at the tail-end of last season that Anderson’s preference would be to ply his trade south of the border after leaving Livi.

However, the 25-year-old has rubbished these claims and insists working for his old Aberdeen gaffer was the main attraction to help him take the next step in his development.

“I did have options down the road,” Anderson said. “But, for me, I had to come to somewhere where I knew I was going to kick on and improve and the next step for me was a massive thing.

“After speaking to people at the club, my family and my friends, I thought this was the perfect fit and I am really excited for the season.

“That was a big part. I didn’t really need to talk to him too much because I knew what the manager and the staff were all about and how they worked.

“It was a fairly easy decision. He probably knows me better than anyone as a player and I know he will be able to get the best out of me.

“It’s his players, he is the one who brings them into the building. And I think having a dressing room with no egos and everyone as one is massive and I think that is probably why you saw the success of the club last season. Everyone wants to fight for each other.”

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Anderson made easy work of Killie first pre-season game on home soil by scoring a first-half hat-trick against TNS of Wales at Rugby Park on Wednesday afternoon.

The diminutive forward knows that he has to make the most of his minutes on the pitch to force his way into McInnes’ starting XI.

The manger loves playing a front two – which is music to Anderson’s ears – but with Kyle Vassell and Marley Watkins ready to continue their fruitful partnership together, Killie now has fierce competition for places in the striking department.

He added: “I think coming to a new club, you just want to hit the ground running and I am delighted with how the first few weeks have gone for me.

“It’s a great dressing room and I have settled straight in, so it’s all good. I knew most of them just playing against them and I am good mates with a few boys as well, so I always knew what type of characters were in the building.

“But it’s not until you actually come into the building that you see the togetherness of the squad and it’s been brilliant. It’s been a really easy dressing room to settle into.

“You look all over the park and there is depth everywhere. You know, if you are not on your game, there are boys ready to step in. But I’m a goalscorer and I want to score every time I get on the pitch and, hopefully, I bring that mentality into the squad and I can play as much as I can.

“The important thing is we are all different strikers. We will all bring different qualities to the team. I just need to get my head down and work hard and we’ll see where it takes us.

“But, obviously, we have got real strength in the squad and we know we need to be on it every single day in training and every game.

“That’s another reason I wanted to come (two strikers). I think that suits me down to a T.

“The last three years, I have been sort of a solo striker and I am not your typical six-foot-five No.9. I think me playing alongside someone gets the best out of me.

“I feel I will score a lot more goals playing in a two as opposed to a one and something I am looking forward to.”