Operation ends Simmonds' stay at Kilmarnock

KILMARNOCK striker Donovan Simmonds requires a hernia operation which will keep him out for the rest of his loan spell at Rugby Park.

Simmonds, on loan from Coventry until January, will go under the knife next week but also misses today's clash with Dundee United with an ankle complaint.

United will go into the match as favourites, following an unbeaten run of ten matches in the SPL, but manager Craig Levein believes you need only look at his own side's season for a reminder that paying too much attention to form trends is unwise.

United were stuck at the bottom of the SPL after five matches but are now in third place. However only six points separate United from Killie in seventh.

"The way our season has gone is a reminder to us that you can't write anyone off," said Levein. "We were bottom of the league at one stage but have put a run together and, in my view, all the teams are capable of that.

"For example, I think you can cross off Kilmarnock's last two results because they have been against the Old Firm and, for me, they don't count for very much. They beat us earlier in the season so we know what they're capable of."