LOOK CLOSER TO ROME

Lyons looks for Italian job to kick-start Killie’s year

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FOUR-TIME World Cup winners Italy and Kilmarnock do not have much in common besides the colour of their shirts at first glance.

But Rugby Park skipper Brad Lyons reckons similarities do exist between the positions the Ayrshire club and the Azzurri find themselves in as he prepares for his Northern Ireland side to meet Italy in a World Cup playoff next year.

Alarm bells are sounding at Killie as they slumped to a sixth consecutive loss, Motherwell clinically taking their chances while the home side did not.

Lyons is an important part of the Northern Ireland team who were drawn to face Rino Gattuso's team in the playoff semifinal in March.

Italy may well be overwhelming favourites to progress in that one but they are under enormous pressure after failing to qualify for the last two World Cups via playoffs against North Macedonia and Sweden.

And Lyons knows what it’s like to be under pressure.

The club captain said: “It’s such a game of ups and downs.