Sunderland defender Oliver Bainbridge has been praised by Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes.
The full-back started his first senior game against Celtic at Celtic Park in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday afternoon as Kilmarnock were thumped 4-0 on the opening weekend of the 2024-25 season.
“I think the positives,” McInnes said after the game. “If you can find positives in a 4-0 defeat is we’ve got minutes into some of the boys utilising the squad. Young Ollie did terrifically well for his first senior game and he came in after only meeting the players yesterday.
“Bobby Wales coming on and continuing his development and I thought we were gutsy,
“The first goal was from a counter-press frame, we got a chance to play around and play Fraser and get up the pitch and Celtic won it back. The second goal was set play, you’re always angry with that one.
His form earned a call-up to the senior squad for a clash with Southampton earlier this year and under-21s boss Graeme Murty said the move was a great opportunity for the 19-year-old. Bainbridge signed his first professional contract last summer and is highly rated at the club.
