Derek McInnes admits Kyle Vassell isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. But the Kilmarnock boss reckons it’s no coincidence his side’s results have gone off the boil since the Rugby Park skipper was hit by injury. Vassell has been sidelined since picking up a calf problem in the January 2 win over St Mirren. And Killie have only won twice in the 11 games since, leaving them steeped in trouble at the bottom of the table. Vassell might split opinion with fans but McInnes is in no doubt the presence of the powerful hitman makes those around him better. That’s why he is desperately hoping that a scan this week gives the 32-year-old the all-clear to resume full training - and make a return to action soon after. And it’s why he hopes to tie the Englishman down on a new deal in the summer. Vassell might only have three goals to his name this season. But McInnes said: “Vass is not everybody’s cup of tea and I get that. “What his absence has highlighted to me is how much we’ve missed him and his importance. Nobody is perfect at Kilmarnock – none of us are. He makes people around about him better and he makes the opposition work harder. He’s been a huge loss to us. “He last played when he came off during a strong home performance against St Mirren in January. At the time, I hoped it was just something innocuous. But when I looked back at the footage of it after the game in the staff room, I had concerns that it was something unnatural following the challenge from the St Mirren player, and the way his leg jarred in the turf. “I had fears that it was going to be a significant injury, although I had hoped it wasn’t going to be as long as this. We’re now 12 weeks on from the injury. We’re hoping now that he can get the all clear to go back to full training. “In the last two or three weeks, there have been good days where he feels top of the world and ready to come back. But then there have been others where he’s had little setbacks. “We’ll try to think positively that he gets an outcome from this scan that allows him to feature in the games between now and the end of the season.” Vassell has made 85 appearances for Killie since signing on a free transfer from San Diego Loyal in January 2023. The well-travelled Englishman has found a home in Ayrshire having previously banged in goals for Cheltenham Town, Rotherham, Blackpool and Peterborough among other clubs south of the border. And it’s that experience that McInnes insists is important for the immediate target of staving off the threat of relegation - as well as looking further ahead. Vassell’s contract expires in the summer but Killie need to cement their top flight status before dealing with their out of contract stars. Motherwell visit Rugby Park on Saturday before McInnes takes his side to Parkhead to face Celtic in the final game before the split. And the manager said: “Vass is one that we’d like to keep. He knows that. He likes living in the area and he’s fully committed to Kilmarnock. His kids were born here and he likes it here. “He’s clearly frustrated with his injury at the moment, but he’s given us positive indications that he would be keen to look at staying. He certainly hasn’t ruled that out. “I’d say it’s more ruled in than not. First thing’s first, he needs to get himself fit and we need to win some games. Then we can deal with a lot of these things.”