Published: Friday, 13th February, 2009 11:50am

Striker crisis for Jeffries?

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INJURIES and suspensions could force Kilmarnock go into Saturday"s crunch home Clydesdale Bank SPL game against Hibs with just ONE recognised striker, forcing boss Jim Jefferies to shuffle the pack.

Irishman Conor Sammon, who has been used in the first team sparingly as he adapts to the SPL could be the only frontman available for the visit of the men from Leith, whom Killie have defeated twice this season.

Jefferies revealed on Thursday that former Airdrie targetman Allan Russell had to be considered doubtful after twisting his ankle in a training session at Rugby Park and with David Fernandez suspended following his red-carding in the Homecoming Scottish Cup Fourth Round replay against Ayr United and newboy Kevin Kyle banned following his dismissal in Saturday"s Fifth Round clash with Inverness at the Tulloch Stadium.

He said: 'It"s possible that Conor could be our only recognised striker for the game. I was thinking of making changes but now they have been forced upon us. I am hoping Allan will be OK and will find out on Friday morning but he is doubtful and I will probably have to play people out of position. As well as the suspensions David Fowler is out for six weeks with a broken bone in his foot and Frazer Wright is carrying a knock.'

Russell will be hoping to win his fitness battle and is looking to help Killie secure their first home league win since mid-November.

He said: 'While it was disappointing to go out of the Scottish Cup on Saturday, Inverness is always a difficult place to go and they got a boost with Terry Butcher coming in as manager. It"s hard to put your finger on why we haven"t getting the results at home but we have to look to pick up the three points at home to Hibernian and can"t afford to look ahead any further than that.'

The club have decided against appealing the Kyle red-card despite his feelings that the player had been hard-done by.

He said: 'I"ve looked at it on video and still feel that Kevin was unlucky but the way the appeal system is it would be a waste of time.'