Chris Killen - Players to star in 2010

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Written by Dave Allan Sunday, 13 June 2010 11:21

There is little doubt that John “Chris” Killen arrives at the World Cup largely unheralded much like his team New Zealand. Born in Wellington on the 8th October, 1981 this striker has played in the UK for the entirety of his career and is currently at Middlesbrough.

Killen initially came over for a trial with Manchester City and impressed enough to join their youth set-up. Things were going smoothly for the player at this point who worked his way into the reserve team, top-scoring for the second string. However only three chances at first team action yielded no goals and it was then that Killen looked to pastures new. alt

Killen’s stint with Oldham was not exactly a rip roaring success but it was the next move, a free transfer to join Tony Mowbray’s Hibernian that propelled his career. The big 6ft 2 in target man found his form quickly in the SPL and grabbed 16 goals from 25 appearances in his most prolific season. Just as things were picking up for the All Whites goal-getter he suffered a ruptured Achilles which saw his career stutter once more.

The striker turned down the option of a one year extension of his contract with Hibs for a chance to step up in class and re-join Mowbray with Celtic. This move did not really work out for the player who found himself behind Jan Venegoor of Hesselink and Georgios Samaras. The stop start nature of his career at Parkhead never allowed him to build a head of steam.

Gordon Strachan, who took over from Mowbray at Celtic, saw enough in Killen to make a move for him when he took over at Middlesbrough. The key to success is providing quality crosses for this brilliant, old fashioned centre forward, but whether New Zealand are able to supply him could well determine their fortunes in the competition.