Lee Ashcroft revels in role as Kilmarnock captain

but instead left with the captain's armband.

In the absence of suspended Manuel Pascali for the home game against Motherwell last week, the 21-year-old defender was asked to step into the breach but not before a nervy few moments in the bowels of Rugby Park.

The 2-1 defeat prevented the day being perfect, but ahead of the home match against Aberdeen tomorrow, the former Killie youth player said: "The manager pulled me in last Friday before training and, to be fair, I thought at first I might be in trouble.

"I wasn't too sure what he was going to talk about. But he just said he was going to make me captain. I actually thought he was joking with me at first, but he was serious about it and said he had the belief in me to be captain.

"Obviously it was a great feeling to lead the boys out. I captained the Under-19s and Under-20s, but it is a lot different being captain of the first team. It was an absolute honour.

"But the day would have been so much better had we got the result but it was still great."

Ashcroft revealed Pascali gave him plenty of good advice - but only after first having a laugh at his expense.

He said: "Manny was winding me up before the game but he spoke to me and told me to play my normal game and not to feel as if there is any added pressure. So that helped me.

"He also told me that I was the experienced one at the back which is a bit mad as I am normally the young one.

"If I am captain again I will do my best and hopefully we can get the result."

Ashcroft will have to shackle 25-goal Aberdeen striker Adam Rooney if the eighth-placed Ayrshire side are to get a positive result as they look to keep away from the relegation play-off spot.

He said: "Aberdeen have been brilliant and you relish the challenge of playing against players such as Adam.

"I have played against him before, I know what he is like. His confidence is high, so it is going to be even more of a challenge, but I am definitely up for the challenge."