Newcastle defender Stuart Findlay admits it is nice to feel wanted at Kilmarnock.
The 22-year-old defender has enjoyed a successful loan spell at Killie this season but has been told by the Magpies that he no longer has a future at the club beyond this season.
The former Celtic defender looked set to have a bright future on Tyneside when he was handed his first-team debut during last season’s FA Cup win over Birmingham.
But he was one of a number of under-23 players to be told they will be released at the end of their current contracts this summer, despite impressing north of the border this term.
And speaking after scoring his second senior goal during Saturday’s 1-0 win over Partick, he admitted he is loving working under Killie boss Steve Clarke.
“They (Newcastle) have told me I will leave,” Findlay told Herald Scotland.
“There’s always speculation but all I know is that I’m loving it here and loving it working under a magnificent manager.
“I’m at an age where I need to play football and at the best level I can and at the moment I’m loving everything that’s happening here.
“When the manager came in he played me at left back which wasn’t my favourite position but I showed that I could do a job and he could trust me.
“Big Gordon (Greer) had a few injuries and I got my chance at centre back. To have a man of his (Clarke’s) calibre backing me has given me all the confidence in the world.”