Kyle delighted manager Jim Jefferies with the first hat-trick of his career

Kevin Kyle was delighted to give one present Scotland cap and a former international a hard time as Kilmarnock won the relegation tussle with Falkirk.

The striker made the last of his eight appearances for his country in 2004.

"I felt I had the beating of Darren Barr and Steven Pressley from the very first minute," said the 27-year-old.

"Darren Barr had a hard time of it and he is in the Scotland set-up. I'm difficult to play against and I proved that against Falkirk."

Kyle's career has been on a downward spiral since being given his Scotland chance by Berti Vogts while with a Sunderland side chasing promotion to England's Premiership.

A serious hip injury hampered his progress and he moved on to have disappointing spells with Coventry City, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Hartlepool United before joining Kilmarnock in January.

Now Kyle will be hoping Scotland manager George Burley will take notice after being lauded by BBC Radio Scotland pundit and former Scotland international Pat Nevin for the best centre-forward display he had seen in the country this season.

Mehdi Taouil has bags of talent and he just has to believe in himself and apply that talent more each week, like we all do Kilmarnock striker Kevin Kyle

"It's great to get the first win of the year and I think we can move on from here away from the danger zone," said Kyle after his head-to-head with Burley's assistant Pressley.

"Steven scissor-kicked me in the throat and he never got booked, but I picked up a yellow when I was trying to chase down the ball in the box."

Kyle feared he would get a red card to go with his first career hat-trick during a 3-0 victory that moved Killie six points clear of bottom side Falkirk.

"The linesman refused to give me the ball at the end," he said.

"I was going to chase him for it, but you know what the referees are like up here - he probably would have given me a red.

"Anyway, in the end, he gave me it and I got all the boys to sign it. I'm dead proud."

Kyle hailed winger Mehdi Taouil's performance for Jim Jefferies' side against Falkirk.

"He is tricky," he said. "The gaffer asked before the game that, of all the players in the Scottish Premier League, who would you hate running at you with the ball? Well it's Mehdi.

"He got moving with the ball and got passing. His timing was just right and he played a couple of great crosses for me.

"He has bags of talent and he just has to believe in himself and apply that talent more each week, like we all do.

"The boys must be thinking, if they put the balls into the box, Kevin is going to get at least one or two."

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