Kenny Shiels hopes trio are not jaded after international duty Kilmarnock manager Kenny Shiels admits he had mixed feelings about his players being on international duty this week. Liam Kelly earned his first full Scotland cap in Wednesday night's 2-1 win in Luxembourg, while goalkeeper Cammy Bell was also called up but did not feature in the match. Rory McKeown completed the trio with an appearance for Northern Ireland under-21s in their defeat to England on Tuesday. Shiels is thrilled to see his players and the club earn international recognition but, with an SPL game at Dundee United tonight to prepare for, says the timing was not ideal. He said: "You've got mixed feelings. You want them to be called up, it's recognition for our club. It's really pleasing that we're striking a chord with the international team and we're getting players capped and representing their country. But, hopefully, it doesn't have an adverse impact on their game preparation. We've had three players on international duty, which isn't the best preparation but it happens to clubs all the time. We are just part of that. Saturday would have been better for the game for us. On the prospect of playing on a Friday night, Shiels added: "The summer months - August, September, April, May - are good times but the climate really isn't conducive to supporters coming home from work and travelling. If it was Kilmarnock against Ayr, or Dundee and Dundee United, teams in close proximity, then I would say it could benefit the crowd. But I think it takes from the crowd a little bit. You just have to bite the bullet. Kilmarnock will be without Rory McKenzie, who has a groin injury, while William Gros, Garry Hay and Danny Racchi all remain on the sidelines. United manager Peter Houston, meanwhile, hopes his players can produce a backlash from Easter Road tonight. United lost 2-1 to league leaders Hibernian last Sunday, which halted their recent revival in the SPL and Houston explained: "The players were very frustrated after losing to Hibs and we're obviously hoping to take some of that feeling into the Kilmarnock game. We want to start at a high tempo and, hopefully, take the game to Kilmarnock. The games with Killie are normally tight but we have to look to get our noses in front and see where it takes us. United right-back Keith Watson is a doubt after picking up a leg injury but Barry Douglas is fit after an ankle problem so could return at left-back.