Youssouf Mulumbu thrilled to be back in football with Kilmarnock
The midfielder had been without a club since leaving Norwich in the summer
Youssouf Mulumbu understands his new team-mates were surprised to see him sign for Kilmarnock.
But he also knows they do not appreciate how happy he is to be back playing football.
The midfielder has been reunited with former West Brom manager Steve Clarke and could feature against Aberdeen on Sunday after joining until the end of the season.
The 30-year-old was without a club after leaving Norwich in the summer and is delighted to be back in the game.
“The lads were a bit surprised that I signed here but I don't think they know the importance of me being here around them, in training every day, having some jokes in the morning,” he said. “It was very important for me.
“I'm looking forward to playing week in, week out, and to show the Kilmarnock fans who Youssouf Mulumbu is.”
The former Paris St Germain player returned to the French capital after his Norwich contract ended and trained on his own for months as the expected offers failed to materialise.
Regular phone calls with former Baggies team-mate Victor Anichebe, who is now playing in China, kept his spirits up until an even better discussion with Clarke.
“It was very hard for me,” Mulumbu said. “When I finished my contract I really thought 'I'm going to find a team straight away'. I was sitting in my living room every day looking at my phone, calling my agent, but I didn't have the chance to find anything.
“If you're not strong mentally, you can just quit. I had good advice from my friend, Victor Anichebe. Every day he called me and gave me some advice and lifted me up. I didn't quit and today I'm here. And I know people are going to be surprised when they see me play.”
Mulumbu made more than 200 appearances for West Brom, where he worked under Clarke for 18 months until December 2013. But things have not gone so well since and he jumped at the chance of a reunion.
“When I had the chance to speak to Steve Clarke, I grabbed it,” said Mulumbu, who made 24 appearances for Norwich in two seasons. “I need to prove on the pitch that it wasn't a mistake to sign me.
“When I worked with him before we finished eighth in the league, the best (Premier League) position of all time for West Brom. I enjoyed it.
“He knows me, he calls me 'my son'. But he's honest as well, if I'm not doing well he is going to let me know. This is why I come with loads of confidence but I need to give everything on the pitch because I know he trusts me and did everything for me to come here, so I am going to give it back for the team.
“It's important to have that relationship because some managers want to play in a certain way and maybe you don't fit. I was at West Brom when Tony Pulis came and I wasn't his type of player, so I stayed on the bench for six months."