Kilmarnock boss Steve Clarke urged his young prospects to step up and fulfil their potential in the new Premiership season.

The Rugby Park side enjoyed a terrific second half to the last campaign after Clarke's arrival in Ayrshire as they leapt up the table to achieve a top six finish.

Scotland youth international Greg Taylor and 22-year-old forward Eamonn Brophy were amongst those to play important roles in Killie's upturn in fortunes.

Speaking ahead of Kilmarnock's Premiership opener against St Johnstone, Clarke called on his other youngsters to follow their lead by establishing themselves in the first team this time around.

He said: "There are one or two boys around the squad who promise to be good players, who threaten to be good players.

"This year, I'm looking for them to become good players."

Clarke is preparing for his first full season in charge of a Premiership side.

Quizzed on how he views the state of the Scottish game at present, the former Chelsea coach called on the league's chiefs to find new ways to sell the game.

He added: "I said when I came up here the product up here is quite good but maybe we don't sell it well enough.

"Hopefully the people that run the game start to sell it better, if they do that you get more money in and the product can only improve.

"Get us a better TV deal, get more money into the game. That's the job for the people at the top of the tree, they have to do a good job for us."