Kevin Kyle reminded Scotland boss George Burley of his international credentials with a second-half double to help Kilmarnock to a 2-1 win over St Johnstone at Rugby Park.

Kyle was called in to the Scotland squad for the World Cup qualifying double header against Macedonia and Holland in September after a five-year absence but had to withdraw with a knee injury.

Somewhat surprisingly, he was initially snubbed by Burley for the friendly in Japan earlier in the month but was called in after further injuries depleted the squad, only to withdraw again with another knee injury.

Burley will soon name his squad for the friendly game against Wales in Cardiff next month and with another two crucial goals, the Killie captain will have done his chances little harm. "I go out there to do my job, to score goals for Kilmarnock and try and help them win points," he said.

"If I'm doing that, whatever comes with it is just a bonus.

"I have been picked for two squads, the second time after call-offs. "If I get a call-up again it's something that I will look forward to and hopefully I can get involved if I get the opportunity.

"It's just nice to be talked about in that sort of breath again. "It's obviously a privilege to play for your country and I'm no different, I would love another crack at it and see where it takes me.

"But it's just nice to score and get the three points."

Kyle headed the opener six minutes after the interval then sealed the points just after the hour mark with a volley from distance, catching Saints keeper Alan Main out of his goal.

In the second minute of added time Killie defender Frazer Wright headed a Danny Grainger corner in to his own goal but it was too late for a Saints' recovery.

Kyle urged strike partner Conor Sammon to follow his lead in being vociferous on the park.

He said: "Conor could have shouted on one ball that would have left him one-on-one with the keeper.

"I thought the ball was for me and I told him he has to talk and shout.

"Even if it is rubbish he talks it will probably help.

"I talk rubbish every day - that's probably why I'm captain."

Killie boss Jim Jefferies admits he was more concerned with getting the points than the quality of his side's play, which, in the first half, had been abysmal.

"I would have taken a shocking performance and taken the three points because we have been playing well and not getting the results," he said.

"We got a good 45 minutes and that was it.

"We didn't give them too much of a roasting at half time, we just told them to settle down and have belief to get the ball down and pass it.

"We sat off them in the first half but in the second half we got on top of them and when we got the first goal I could see the confidence going through the whole team."

Saints boss Derek McInnes believes his side were hard done by on two counts at the first goal.

"First, I wasn't pleased that the referee didn't stop the ball when Anderson was down in the box," he said.

"He was quick enough to stop it when Kyle went down.

"But I thought it was a foul on Murray Davidson which would have allowed Anderson to get back on the pitch and deal with the cross.

"Kyle scored from the middle of the goal where Anderson would have been.

"Between the referee and the linesman they couldn't get the decision right.

"If I'm wrong then I will make my apologies during the week but that was my take on it.

"I thought that changed the game."