'I can only skyrocket from here': Daniels relishing Kilmarnock move
The 23-year-old Dutch striker signed a two-year deal with the Ayrshire club following a short spell at League of Ireland club Cork City where he regained his confidence and scoring touch with five goals in 12 appearances.
Daniels has also had spells with Icelandic side Fram Reykjavik, Leixoes in Portugal and Canadian Premier League side Pacific FC, but he sees Killie as the launchpad for his future.
Ahead of the Premier Sports Cup opener against Brora Rangers on Saturday, he said: 'Before that (Cork) I had no club for a long amount of time.
'I tried to find the love of football again and then Cork came with a short stay, a brief stay because of two injured players they had and I took that chance.
'Even when I had no club, I kept training every day, six days a week.
'So I never gave up, but in my head I was like, f**k, it's just not going that well for me. Things came, but were not the things that gave me the feeling that 'I have to go there'.
'I went to teams and it was short stays and not playing. And that kind of lowered the confidence in myself, but my family and my agent and the people behind me, they kept giving me the energy that I needed to keep going.
'I was just waiting and waiting and waiting, waiting and waiting, and then Cork came, and then I got the confidence back because I scored goals, I played a lot, and I think that was the most important thing, to play a lot of games.
'This step gave me the love again. I know that I can do it, so I just need to go harder and harder every day.
'I know that Virgil van Dijk played for Celtic, I know the Scottish league is not a small league. It's a big league, and they're just going at it like same as in England. And I like that kind of football.
'The manager (Stuart Kettlewell) just told me that I will fit Killie's plans and that I can only skyrocket from here.
'That was the most important for me, someone that gave me the confidence and he gave me the confidence that I needed. He showed me that he really wanted me.
'I think from here I can skyrocket and I have the confidence in that. So it's just for me to play and show the Scottish League what I'm about.
'They will see a player that works 110 per cent every game, every day, work for the team and give everything on the pitch and leave everything on the pitch.'
Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News
Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Herald Scotland
5 minutes ago
- The Herald Scotland
Historic Scottish golf club to open new course and clubhouse
Royal Dornoch Golf Club in Sutherland is consistently ranked among the world's finest golf courses, and is now forecasting a 30 per cent rise in advance bookings for the 2026 season compared to the same period last year. To meet this demand, the club has unveiled a master plan designed to reimagine its courses, enhance player facilities and amplify the region's golf tourism appeal. It said: 'At the heart of the vision is a revamped Struie Course, a brand-new 18-hole championship layout on prime Scottish linksland, and two additional short courses – one of which will be ideal for the club's growing junior programme. A state-of-the-art practice facility, a Himalayas-style putting green and the potential for lodges are also in the pipeline. The expansion is expected to create full-time and seasonal jobs once the new courses and accommodation are fully operational. Its new energy-efficient clubhouse funded through a £5 million package from Bank of Scotland's Clean Growth Finance Initiative is on track to open this December. Built to blend sustainability with tradition, the space will include solar panels, battery storage, underfloor heating and a dedicated archive room celebrating the club's history, which dates to 1616. Neil Hampton, general manager at Royal Dornoch, said: 'There's something really special about Royal Dornoch, you can feel the history under your feet. But that doesn't mean standing still. This isn't just about building new courses, it's about shaping what the next 50 years of golf in the Highlands can look like. 'With international visitors inspired by events like the Scottish Open, we're proud to offer a world-class links experience that reflects the scale and passion of the golf season. Supported by the Bank of Scotland and with our new clubhouse nearing completion, we're now perfectly positioned to meet that global interest with facilities to match. It's a special moment for the club, our members and the wider community.' Michael Thomson, relationship director at Bank of Scotland, said: 'Royal Dornoch is a jewel in Scotland's sporting crown - rich in heritage, but never afraid to innovate. What Neil and the team are building isn't just ambitious, it's thoughtful and forward-looking. 'We've proudly supported the club for over 40 years, and I can't wait to see what this next chapter has to offer, from sustainability to new jobs and visitor experiences.' Cottage offering gated access to Royal Troon listed for sale This Troon cottage just on the market for offers over £375,000 is definitely one for the golf fans. Set on a private plot at the end of Crosbie Road and immediately adjacent to Royal Troon, 'The Cottage' has an enviable position within one of the town's most prestigious addresses. There is gated access directly out to the 17th and 18th holes of the Portland Course and there are "views out across this beautiful links course from the lounge windows". The agent said: "This unique location is also within walking distance of the popular seafront, countryside and woodland walks, the amenities of the town centre, and within close proximity of the A77/M77 road network." Money HQ 💷 How you can beat unwittingly falling into 60 per cent tax trap This article appears as part of the Money HQ with Ben Stark newsletter.
Daily Record
35 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Celtic transfer bid 'laughingly rejected' as Kyogo suffers teething problems
The Hoops have been frustrated in their attempts to get more signings over the line Celtic have had THREE offers turfed out for winger Jakob Breum as Go Ahead Eagles stand firm. Danish star Breum, 21, has emerged as the Hoops' latest signing target as Brendan Rodgers seeks more firepower. Breum is one of the most exciting talents in the Eredivisie and lit up the Dutch top-flight with 11 goals and provided five assists. That's caught the attention of Parkhead scouts, and the Scottish champions kicked off negotiations earlier this month. But, as has been widely reported, the opening £1.5million offer was instantly snubbed, with Dutch magazine Voetbal International going as far as to say it was "laughingly rejected". It's believed Celts returned to the table with two improved offers, but the latest of £3m was also booted out by the Dutch Cup holders. Go Ahead have slapped a £6m price tag on the wide man's head and are in no rush to sell, with the player still under contract for another two years. Meanwhile ex- Celtic hero Kyogo is still finding his feet at Birmingham City following his quick-fire £10million exit from Rennes. The Japanese striker linked up with former teammate and compatriot Tomoki Iwata at St Andrew's in a bumper summer switch. Kyogo was given another runout in the penultimate pre-season friendly at Port Vale as the Blues coasted to a 2-0 victory. But the 30-year-old endured a frustrating 65 minutes as he struggled to test home goalkeeper Marko Marosi - despite making "some decisive movements". Reflecting on Kyogo's afternoon, Birmingham Live reporter Alex Dicken wrote that Birmingham's players "aren't quite on the same wavelength as Kyogo just yet." He added: "The question is are they just not finding him, or is he not making the right runs. That is an issue [Chris] Davies will hope to iron out over the next two weeks." Meanwhile Nicolas Kuhn lifted his first piece of silverware in Italy as his new side were crowned Como Cup winners. The £17m attacker made a second-half cameo as Como 1907 secured the first-ever Como Cup title with a 3–0 victory over Ajax.
ITV News
an hour ago
- ITV News
Kelso-born Oscar Onley says his top four finish in the Tour De France has 'sparked a dream'
Kelso-born cyclist Oscar Onley says his unexpected top four finish in the Tour De France has "sparked a dream" for the future. The 22-year-old finished fourth in the 22-day event, equalling the tournament's highest finish by a Scottish rider in only his second attempt for his team Picnic PostNL. After finishing the last circuit on the Mantes-la-Ville in Paris, Oscar said: "This is a really big moment in my career. I don't really realise it yet, but I think just by talking to riders - going forward now - we have something to build on and an exciting project for the future. "It's definitely sparked a dream, to be honest, I've never even thought about a top five in a tour before, so to get it on my first try in GC [general is quite something. "It's been a really special three weeks with the whole team - it's been nice," he added.
