Aaron Tshibola has impressed in wins against both Celtic and Rangers since moving to the Scottish Premiership from Aston Villa.
Rugby Park is quickly becoming something of a refuge for those looking to revive their reputation and kick-start a stuttering career.
Once viewed as one of the most impressive up-and-coming coaches in British football, Steve Clarke is once again earning rave reviews at the helm of Kilmarnock, losing just three of 25 games since taking over with a top-half finish within their grasp.
Youssouf Mulumbu, who worked with Clarke at West Brom and was released by Norwich City at the start of the season, has been a revelation in central midfield. And the early signs suggest that the Killie bug has already taken hold of Aaron Tshibola, too.
A £5 million signing from Reading in 2016, Tshibola quickly became an expensive white elephant at Aston Villa. Loan spells at Nottingham Forest and MK Dons proved disastrous and, with manager Steve Bruce unwilling to give him a chance, Tshibola was farmed out to Kilmarnock in January.
And the 23-year-old is already starting to show why Villa once decided to pay so much for him. The dynamic midfielder has been very impressive in his seven appearances for Clarke’s side, helping Killie to wins against both Celtic and Rangers.
“It’s a joy coming in here. Being in the right environment was key to me and the team is on a high,” Tshibola, who admitted he would be open to extending his stay in Scotland, told the Daily Record earlier this month.
On current form, however, maybe it would be premature for Villa to write Tshibola off totally.
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