IT TOOK James Dayton to hit rock bottom before he saw the light ...

a fluorescent light, as it happens.

Having been released by Crystal Palace after being at the club from the age of 10 back in 2009, the then 21-year-old saw his dream of playing professional football start to slip away into the darkness.

Two unsuccessful loan spells caused his momentum to dwindle and, before he knew it, he was enduring a year out of the game playing semi-pro football with Bishop's Stortford and working in his dad's lighting factory.

It was in the middle of the 6.30am rises that the talented winger realised he had had enough. A call from Glenn Hoddle to be a part of his training academy was eventually accepted by Dayton where he joined the likes of Scotland international winger Ikechi Anya trying to carve out a career in the game he loves.

A trial period with Kilmarnock soon presented itself and, as they say, the rest is history. Now the 26-year-old, who is on loan at St Mirren from Oldham, is ready to return today to face the team that offered him a path from light into the spotlight.

"From August to November Glenn kept calling me and, at that time, I was playing with Bishop's Stortford and working with my dad. I kept thinking 'this isn't me, I may as well give it a go'," said Dayton.

"My dad owns a lighting company and I was in the factory down the bottom, putting them all together, boxing them, sending them out on to lorries. I was up at half past six, it was horrible. Honestly, at that time I hit rock bottom. I took the punt on Glenn Hoddle and lucky thing I did."

He added: "I owe a huge thanks to Mixu Paatenlainen and Kenny Shiels for taking a chance on me. They did take a chance and put me in straight away. It was an important part of my career. If that hadn't come off it would have been another setback."

It will be an emotional day for Dayton given the success he enjoyed at Rugby Park during a three-year spell.

While a host of impressive performances under Paatelainen and Kenny earned him a move to Oldham, the Englishman was also part of the League Cup-winning team of 2012.

Manuel Pascali is the only member of that side left at Killie, and Dayton is looking forward to catching up with his old pal.

The St Mirren midfielder said: "I'm still in touch with Mano. A lot of the players I was there with have either retired or left. I think he's the only one left! I'm looking forward to going back. I'm not sure what sort of reception I'll get, but I'm treating it as just another game.

"I had some very good times there with winning the cup. I've tried not to speak to Mano in the run-up, but I'll speak to him before the game. He'll probably try and wind me up!"

Dayton scored on his debut for Saints back in January in a 1-0 win at Partick Thistle. And, if he should repeat the feat this afternoon against his old club, the winger is honest about how he will celebrate.

He added: "I'll probably celebrate inside or with a little clenched fist. I won't go running roaring into the faces of the Kilmarnock crowd."