Conrad Balatoni keen to repay Kilmarnock gamble
Conrad Balatoni wants to concentrate on saving goals rather than money after Kilmarnock ended his worrying wait for a new club.
The defender signed for Killie last weekend and could make his debut in the Ladbrokes Premiership contest with St Johnstone at Rugby Park on Saturday.
Balatoni quit Partick at the end of last season but other offers failed to materialise despite turning out for Bradford in pre-season and being linked with the likes of Barnsley and Blackpool plus clubs in Greece and Holland.
But a knee injury to Kilmarnock captain Mark Connolly saw Gary Locke move to sign Balatoni on a short-term deal, much to the central defender's relief.
"It's been tough, I'm not going to lie," he said.
"You don't know what's going to happen, you don't know whether someone is going to take you but you have just got to be positive and think something is going to happen. Luckily for me, Kilmarnock came calling.
"But it's been difficult waking up and not knowing where your future lies. You just have to go to the gym and keep yourself as fit as you can but you miss it. You miss going in with the lads and having the banter in the changing room.
"I thought there were a couple of things that were maybe going to happen from abroad. I was just waiting for the offers to come in but nothing materialised. I kept getting told 'something's coming, something's coming', but I wanted to get back into it. I have bills to pay like everyone else, I have a mortgage. I'm not made of money.
"I needed a job and staying in Scotland is not the worst thing in the world. It's a good league and I'm looking forward to the next four months."
Balatoni knew he was taking a calculated gamble by leaving Thistle but he is eager to experience football and life further afield.
"I decided in January I was leaving," the former Hearts youth player said.
"I had five great years there and just decided a change was necessary for myself and my career. Maybe things didn't quite work out the way I wanted but I'm only 24 and I have a good few years in front of me to fulfil my dreams in football.
"I was getting a bit impatient and I just wanted something. When Kilmarnock came in, I thought it was the right decision to take something short term until January, and we will assess it then, whether it suits both parties to renew it. I'm just happy now and looking forward to get back playing and doing what I do best."
Scott Robinson returned to action at Hearts leaving Dale Carrick (hamstring), Mark Connolly (knee) and Chris Johnston (knee) as Locke's only absentees.
St Johnstone striker Steven MacLean will not be risked on the artificial surface at Rugby Park, with manager Tommy Wright determined to protect his striker's knee on the advice of surgeons.
Central defender Steven Anderson may be listed among the substitutes after recovering from surgery to a fractured eye socket.
Murray Davidson has recovered from a cut mouth which required five stitches in the game against Hamilton last weekend.
Fellow midfielder Chris Millar is convinced others will step up to the plate with in-form MacLean ruled out.
He said: "Macca has been in excellent form for us and it is great to see - especially because we weren't scoring as many goals as we'd have liked last season.
"He will be missed, especially after getting a hat-trick last week in the win over Hamilton. But we have John Sutton and Chris Kane eager to stake a claim.
"The manager had good options and it is the same all over the park. We have recognised first-team players who aren't even making the squad with everyone fit.
"We probably have more strength in depth than ever."
Source: PAR
