Kyle Magennis eyeing Rangers scalping repeat with Celtic as he details 'difficult' journey to Killie redemption

Coughing and sneezing left him in agony. Just getting out of bed in the morning was a daily struggle.

And at one point Kyle Magennis feared his career might be in jeopardy if medics couldn’t cure the groin problem that plagued him at Hibs. But now, after two operations, he feels pain-free for the first time in ages – and Kilmarnock are reaping the benefits.

It’s easy to forget that Magennis is still only 24. When he emerged at St Mirren as a kid, represented Scotland at Under-21 level and earned a move to Easter Road, the sky was the limit. But it feels like he has barely kicked a ball in two years with his progress badly curtailed by injury. Finally, the midfielder is firing again under Derek McInnes at Rugby Park. He has been terrific in their opening two games of the Premiership campaign and is now eyeing Celtic’s scalp in the Viaplay Cup today. Anything Magennis achieves this season will feel like a bonus given what he has been through, physically and mentally. He has revealed the major low point he hit at Hibs – and how at times he couldn’t see how he was going to recover.

As he prepared for today’s tie against the Hoops, Magennis said: “It’s difficult to sum up what I’ve been through. It was even more difficult because it was the same issue recurring. Operations, injections, nothing worked. But finally the last operation was a success and I’m feeling good after it. I’ve not had any issues since then.

“The first op was last August and after the first month I felt OK. But then I felt it again and thought: ‘Here we go.’ I tried to play through it until February but I just got to a breaking point. I felt I couldn’t do it any more and had to get it sorted. For the sake of my career I just felt I couldn’t go on with