Gary Locke admits the current players available to him at Kilmarnock remind him of the situation at Hearts last season.

A number of young players - Dean Hawkshaw, Sam Liddington, David Syme and Greg Kiltie - were on the bench for the 3-3 Premiership draw with Inverness, the latter two coming on as substitutes.

Locke was already without Sammy Clingan and Alexei Eremenko for the game through injury and suspension respectively, and he lost Jamie Hamill and Chris Chantler before kick-off.

Throw in Mark Connolly's collarbone injury in the first half against the Caley Jags which looked serious, Locke sees more than a few similarities with his Tynecastle days.

"Losing Mark is a huge blow as we're without Manuel Pascali next week through suspension," said the interim Killie boss.

"We've lost a couple of bodies through injury but David Syme has come into the team and done well.

"It's not easy for him but he's done well for the under-20s, which even when Allan Johnston was here, we'd watch all the time.

"We've said to all the young boys that if they do well then they will get an opportunity. It's a bit like being back at Hearts again!"

Locke is now unbeaten in the three games he has been in charge and he has been delighnted by the mettle his side has shown.

He said: "The character of the squad is tremendous. To come from behind three times against Inverness, and twice last week, shows you that they've got a bit of spirit about them.

"They didn't let their heads go down and battled back. We've got a lot of characters in the dressing room and they are very united.

"I've just tried to work on one or two things on the training pitch and the boys are putting that into practice. The results have been pretty decent of late."