LEE Clark hopes to light a fire underneath his Kilmarnock squad after sending them for a deep freeze.

The Rugby Park boss has persuaded the club to hire a KrioSystem Cryochamber to help boost their preparation for matches over the next six weeks.

The units are capable of producing temperatures of -137oC, with the Arctic conditions helping to aid recovery after tough Ladbrokes Premiership games and speed up injured players’ journey back to fitness.

Killie are the first team in Scotland to make use of the chambers – which can cost around £150,000 to purchase – but Clark hopes it will ensure his side are not left out in the cold when it comes to the battle for the top six.

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He said: “We’re looking forward to making use of the unit. The main chamber is capable of reaching -137oC. 

“You go in there for three minutes and it attacks the central nervous system to make it reproduce the cells which help you recover.

“The players who played last night will be trying it out to help boost their recovery for the next group of games.

“It can also help with the rehabilitation of injured players, so we will be using it after matches and intense training sessions.

“I’ve been aware of this technology for a few years now. Sam Allardyce was big into it when I worked with him at Newcastle and just as I was leaving, they were getting one built. 

“Leicester used one last year when they won the Premier League.

“I need to say a big thank you to the board as this sort of thing doesn’t come cheaply but they have bought into what I’m trying to do.

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“I took my proposal to them more in hope than expectation but thankfully my sales pitch worked.

“We haven’t got a huge playing budget so we have to look at other ways to gain those extra inches that are the difference between winning and losing. We feel this is one way we can do that and hopefully we get a positive spin on the pitch with results.”

Clark admits his team froze badly on Tuesday night when they were thumped 5-1 by Aberdeen at Pittodrie.

It is the second time they have been handed a heavy defeat by the Dons this season and the manager wants to make sure they do not melt away so easily next time.

He said: “I haven’t tried the cryochamber out yet but it might be a good time today after last night. It might help calm me down.

“I don’t think it’s a question of not being motivated enough or having the desire.

“When I look at the fitness data there wasn’t much difference to where we were when we got a good result against Dundee at the weekend.

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“It was more the brains, intelligence of the players and how they reacted to a set-back. When you go to these clubs like Aberdeen you understand there are periods where you are under the cosh but you have to withstand that.

“And if you do go a goal behind you need to have the capability to make sure it does not go two or three, and then four and five. You need to keep yourself in the game because you know you will make chances.”