понедельник, 1 октября 2012 г.

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS A NEW DEAL... AND A BIGGER DINING ROOM; Clydesdale Bank PREMIER LEAGUE COUNTDOWN TO MONDAY'S LIVE TV CRACKER AT FIR PARK Danny deluged with Aussie visitors but he's not pining for back home.(Sport) - Daily Record (Glasgow, Scotland)

Byline: BY GARY RALSTON

DANNY INVINCIBILE is dreaming of a White Christmas - and finalising a new contract with Kilmarnock.

But first he's off to Homebase for a new dining-room table after being invaded by a squad of Aussies ahead of the festive period.

The Killie winger is set for a return at Motherwell on Monday night following a six-week injury lay-off and has revealed he's opened talks on a new deal to keep him at Rugby Park.

As if life isn't busy enough, brother Antonio, 21, has just pitched up with four mates from Down Under on the doorstep of the flat Danny shares with their other brother Gino, 25, in Glasgow's west end.

Invincibile has managed to keep his own bedroom - just - but his visitors' excitement at being in Scotland for the first time has reminded the 29-year-old why he loves this country, especially at this time of year.

He admits he'll head home one day, possibly to play in the A-League, but isn't quite ready to return to a land where conversations about sport are dominated by cricket and rugby.

Invincibile said: 'My contract's up at the end of the season and the club have already come forward and asked to talk. Nothing is agreed yet but I'd be quite happy to sign on again because I like the club. We have a good bunch of boys and I love life in Scotland.

'This is my fifth year here and at first I struggled because I come from Brisbane where it's always so sunny and hot. I've never minded the cold, so long as the sun shines, but the wind blowing pelting rain into your face takes some getting used to.

'They reckon if Scotland was warmer and saw more sunshine it would be the best country anywhere and I agree, but you don't do too badly as it is.

'There's no arrogance here, everyone talks to everyone else. Everyone's so friendly - you're just like Aussies, we'd talk to our sheep.

'I think about home and would like to play there again one day, but there's something in my mind telling me it's not time to return yet.

'I'll maybe go back in a year or two but in the meantime I want to continue to learn and experience as much as I can over here.

'Anyway, if I went home I'd only have to talk about rugby, cricket and hockey before we could get around to football. It definitely takes fourth place there and when you go to games in Australia there isn't the same atmosphere and passion.

'I reckon if you could wrap up the Scottish game and take it back home it would be absolutely great.'

Invincibile will return from a hamstring injury he picked up against Celtic in the Co-operative Insurance Cup.

He came back too quickly and suffered a setback after a fortnight but he's raring to go again - and a win bonus wouldn't go amiss now his house is a hostel.

He said: 'Gino's been here for a year and Antonio has just pitched up with his mates on their way round Europe.

He's already complaining to the family on his Facebook site that he can't feel his toes and reckons they'll have to come off 'If I don't have someone turn up from home every three months or so I begin to worry so even though there are six of us in a small apartment and the heating's on full blast I love it, especially at this time of year.

'The boys are off to Spain, Italy and Amsterdam but will back on the 22nd. I love this time of year here because everyone is so cheerful and it's much more traditionally festive than back home. Gino has promised to cook up a storm with Christmas dinner but I have to buy a bigger table.

'It's great to be surrounded by family and friends and to look forward to a meal aimed at warming you up rather than cooling you down.

'In Australia, 50 or 60 of our family meet up on the beach and it's usually a meal of cold cuts and chilled beer.

'Sometimes if it gets too warm we'll head up to my aunt and uncle's place in the mountains.

'The guys can't wait to experience a White Christmas and a good meal followed by a few drinks in the west end. They're also really looking forward to Hogmanay.'

Invincibile has made an early New Year resolution as Killie bid to get back to winning ways after only one victory in the six SPL games since he was sidelined.

He said: 'I'm a fidgety spectator. I don't like sitting on the sidelines, especially when the team's going through a hard time.

'We don't carry a big squad and although we started the season well we've hit a bad spell and probably dropped lower in the league than we would have hoped.

'But the fire's back in my belly now I'm free of injury and the boys all know what we can do as a team. Let's get back to winning ways against Motherwell.'

CAPTION(S):

FREEZING: But Invincibile loves Scotland