Kilmarnock manager Allan Johnston insists he is in no hurry to cash in on Kris Boyd this month after watching the 12-goal front man kill off St Mirren.
Boyd struck just as the clock ticked past 90 to inflict a cruel 2-1 defeat on the Buddies, who had led after on-loan Newcastle teenager Adam Campbell grabbed a debut goal.
Rory McKenzie levelled the game after 28 minutes but Boyd, whose contract expires in the summer, gave another example of the type of finishing that has made his manager so reluctant to let him depart with his last-gasp winner.
The Killie manager said: “If we get chances to Boydy, he will always score. He got one and was unlucky with a couple of others. That’s how much of a threat he was.
“Boydy knows how much of a big player he is for us. Hopefully, we can keep hold of our best players. We are looking to improve the team rather than lose our best players.”
Johnston admitted it capped a remarkable turnaround for a side who started the season without a win from their first 10 games.
“The festive period is very important and to take nine points out of 12 is great,” he said.
St Mirren boss Danny Lennon admitted his players switched off at the death but said he had high hopes for Campbell.
“That was a sore one to take and we’re very frustrated and disappointed with the result,” he said.
“I thought wee Adam Campbell gave a great flavour of what he’s going to bring, not just for us but to Scottish football.”