Paatelainen lifts SPL monthly manager's award

Killie were unbeaten in the Scottish Premier League in December

Mixu Paatelainen has been named Clydesdale Bank Premier manager of the month for his achievements with Kilmarnock in December.

The 43-year-old Finn has transformed the Rugby Park side from league strugglers to fourth in the table.

In a fixture list hit by poor weather, Killie were unbeaten in December, with wins over Hibs and Inverness Caledonian Thistle and a 1-1 draw at Celtic.

Paatelainen is keen to add to his squad for the second half of the season.

In recent weeks the Ayrshiremen have lost Harry Forrester and Ben Gordon, whose loan spells ended, Craig Bryson, who is out for a month with an ankle injury, while midfielder Alexei Eremenko and striker Conor Sammon are attracting interest from clubs keen to sign them in the January transfer window.

However, Paatelainen has been able to bring in French midfielder Benjamin Laurant and Swedish full-back Billy Berntsson, William Gros and goalkeeper Anssi Jaakola.