Adams keen on dynamic duo
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DEREK Adams believes the twin capture of Derek Riordan and Mark Fotheringham would add a potent new dimension to Ross County’s squad.
While the Dingwall club’s manager is happy with the calibre of players at his disposal, he remains keen to enrich the squad’s creativity and firepower.
Riordan and Fotheringham both reported to the Global Energy Stadium for training on Tuesday and will go through their paces in a final trial session today (Friday).
No deal will be cut with either until next week at the earliest – and wage demands could, contrary to reports elsewhere, still prove a stumbling block.
But Adams was at pains to emphasise just how much the talented duo could bring to the team.
County’s start to SPL life has been impressive, with five games unbeaten hoisting them to a heady fourth in the table. But while only one goal has been conceded – the best defensive record in the league – County have scored just twice, with dead ball finishes from Richard Brittain.
Adams stressed his interest in the high-profile pair stemmed from a simple desire to improve his squad, rather than any reaction to the lack of goalscoring.
Riordan (29), with 95 SPL finishes to his name, has been capped for Scotland and shone for Hibs before earning a switch to Gordon Strachan’s Celtic.
Last season Riordan spent time with Chinese club Shaanxi Chan-Ba and St Johnstone.
Off-field problems have made for bad headlines over the years, and fitness may be an issue after recent inactivity.
Neither factor would faze Adams, however, who also talked up the virtues of Fotheringham as a special talent. Fotheringham (28), cut his teeth with Celtic before spells with Dundee, Germany’s SC Freiburg, Austria’s FC Aarau, Norwich, Dundee United and Livingston.
While Riordan’s pedigree needs little introduction, a measure of Fotheringham’s can be glimpsed in recent trials.
The attacking midfielder was put through his paces in trials with Bundesliga giants 1899 Hoffenheim and Wolfsburg.
At Hoffenheim, manager Markus Babbel – formerly of Liverpool and Bayern Munich – showed keen interest but ultimately declined to offer a deal.
Portsmouth also offered month-to-month terms but not the stability Fotheringham is seeking.
Adams said: "They are two players with very good careers behind them and in front of them. They have played at the highest level.
"They could really add something to the squad we have. Riordan is the third highest goalscorer in SPL history and moved to Celtic and back to Hibernian, while he has also been to China.
"You have Fotheringham, who has been training with two huge German clubs and courting interest from Portsmouth.
"They are a different calibre of player to what I have had in the past.
"Mark is very creative, good on the ball. He is in the same position as Riordan. They just need to get their careers back on track. They would add another dimension to the strong base we have here.
"They are training with us this week and there will be no decision either way until next week. It is not only our decision, but theirs too.
"The games in the Premier League are a different proposition from the First Division. We can’t play as we did in that league, because the opposition is better. You don’t have the same gaps to play in as we did in the First Division."
County entered the international break buoyed by another strong showing in the 0-0 draw with Kilmarnock.
Kenny Shiels, the colourful Killie manager, reacted post-match with strong critical sentiments about the standard of the match and likened it to "anti-football".
Adams, though, believes the Northern Irishman would have been embarrassed by his statements after watching the highlights as a pundit in the BBC studios.
Adams said: "Watching the Kilmarnock game again and looking at the chances we created in the first half, we should have gone in ahead. The way we played and the way we stopped Kilmarnock playing was pleasing.
"When we gained possession I thought we kept it well and were unfortunate not to have taken more from the game." But Adams is not fretting over the lack of goals from open play in matches so far.
He stressed: "We’ve created chances and had opportunities to score in all of the games.
"I think it is important we gain a steady footing in the league and we have done that. We’ve collected seven points already.
"I’m sure the midfielders and strikers will score goals as the season progresses."
Young Alex Cooper, following his SPL debut, is now out for a month with an ankle ligament injury sustained in the last tackle before he was substituted against Kilmarnock.
Adams stressed: "Alex did well. It was a difficult game for him to come into but it gave him an opportunity and a taste of the action." Mark Corcoran remains injured, along with goalkeeper Joe Malin.
