Derek McInnes wanted to keep as much continuity as possible within his Kilmarnock squad. 

The Rugby Park gaffer has made just one addition during the summer transfer window, with Bruce Anderson arriving from Livingston. 

McInnes has managed to get Marley Watkins and Stuart Findlay to commit their futures to the club and revealed that he was hoping to bring former loanees, Will Dennis and Corrie Ndaba, back to Ayrshire next season but feels that task could prove difficult. 

Kilmarnock are preparing for a crunch Europa League qualifier against Cercle Brugge on July 25, which is an added incentive to get any newbies integrated quickly.

"Obviously, there were a few changes and a few lads moved on for different reasons," McInnes confirmed on Kilmarnock's transfer plans. 

"We were looking to try and get familiarity and get as many of the ones we wanted to keep. Marley Watkins was one, Stuart a massive one. We’ve only added one new signing in terms of Bruce.

"We would have taken Will Dennis back in a heartbeat, we would take Corrie Ndaba back in a heartbeat if we could. But Will is going at a pace where he is training with Bournemouth. He will go on their American tour. He probably will go out on loan, but, by that time, we will probably have moved on.

"So that one’s not really in our thinking at the moment. We are looking at other options with goalkeeper. And Corrie is one where we would like to bring him back, but I think there will be more than us.”


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Anderson netted three clinical finishes as Killie thrashed Welsh outfit, TNS, 5-0 on Wednesday and McInnes was delighted to see the striker flourish in his new side. 

"Bruce was exactly what he is (during the friendly)," the Kilmarnock boss explained. "He took advantage of some good build-up play and just being sharp in the box.

"His goals were all very similar, all in the box, one-touch finishes and a nice calm finisher in the right place at the right time. Just something I felt we could have done with last season and the reason why we brought him in in the first place. 

"It is pre-season, I don’t get too hung up on friendlies and certainly not on the results pre-season because they are never a real indication. But, at the same time, when your centre-forward is scoring a hat-trick, it is always good."