ELLAND BACK WITH BIELSA’S MURDERBALL

NOHAN KENNEH credits Marcelo Bielsa and his legendary “murderball” training sessions for preparing him for Scottish football.

The Hibs loanee now wants a chance to prove he is ready out on the field of play.

England youth Kenneh cut his teeth at Leeds and will never forget the savage physicality of former boss Bielsa’s training sessions.

Kenneh, who has joined the Staggies through to the end of the season, was taken under the wing of England star Calvin Phillips at Elland Road.

Gaining a first-team squad place, he thrived under Bielsa and still shakes his head in disbelief at some of his methods.

The 20-year-old said: “Leeds United was a fantastic grounding for me. Everyone knows the manager who was there – Bielsa. I was in the academy and he took me into the first-team set-up.

“I was learning from the likes of Calvin Phillips, who plays a similar position to me.

“The manager did a lot to try to improve me, as a person first and foremost.

“I feel like I developed really well under him. It was crazy. The intensity in training is through the roof. We did a thing called murderball where the staff would line up. If the ball went out, it would just go back in.

“There were no breaks, no fouls, no offside – we were just playing.

“Then, when you actually get out on the pitch in a match, it feels easier because of the intensity you’ve had in training.You got used to it.”

Hamilton boss John Rankin admits he has Malky Mackay to thank for helping him make the grade in management.

But the Ross County gaffer’s former apprentice hopes the tables will have turned as he draws up plans for a stiff examination of his old master’s struggling Staggies side.

Rankin said: “Malky was still working for the SFA when I went through my pro-licence a couple of years ago and he really did help me quite a bit.

“I’ve got so much time for Malky. His experience and time during that period as I went through the course was invaluable.”