Ross County manager Don Cowie praises Celtic counterpart Brendan Rodgers for attention to detail and man-management when pair worked together at Watford
Ross County manager Don Cowie says he still leans on Celtic counterpart Brendan Rodgers for advice ahead of the two sides facing off in Dingwall this weekend.
The defending Premiership champions will make the journey to Dingwall for a Sunday lunchtime kick off, fresh off the back of a 7-1 Champions League hammering at the hands of Borussia Dortmund.
Cowie first came across Rodgers in English football, though, when the latter signed the 10-cap Scottish international for Watford.
They would only work together for a matter of months before Rodgers moved on to Reading, but the impact that the now-former Liverpool and Leicester City man would have on Cowie can still be felt today.
“He gave me an opportunity to take my playing career to another level by moving to England,” Cowie recalled.
“I learned an awful lot from him, he opened my mind massively in terms of how I see football and the extra detail that goes into making a team work.
“He was a big influence in my career, and he’s someone I can still lean on and speak to now, which is really important.
“There were two stand-out things for me – his detail in how he wanted his team to play on the pitch, and his manner off the pitch.
“He made everyone feel part of the football club. Ultimately, 11 start a game at the weekend, so you’ve got an awful lot of players beyond that who you have to keep on side and on board to create that togetherness.
“It can be really difficult when you’re not playing. I was playing under him, but I could see the effect it had on other people and Brendan’s personality kept everyone on board. We were all ready to play at any given time.”
County will go into the game without George Harmon, who will not need surgery but is still expected to miss 10-12 weeks of action.
Will Nightingale, who was named on the substitutes’ bench against Hearts last weekend, will also miss the match, while Dylan Smith has gone out on loan to Arbroath.
Josh Reid, though, is expected to be in contention to feature against Celtic, while Cowie also confirmed that there are no fitness issues with Scott Allardice despite the midfielder being absent from a number of matchday squads recently.
“Josh Reid has a chance of being back fit and involved in the game, which is a massive boost because he gives us a real balance” Cowie noted.
“It wasn’t where we identified Eli Campbell to play, but in terms of adapting with our two natural left wing-backs getting injured at the same time, Eli has come in and done fantastically well.
“It would be great to have Josh back as well, to have that other option.
“Scott has been back training with the group for a number of weeks now, and he’s doing really well.
“Like I’ve said all along, we have a really competitive squad, especially in that midfield area, and he is pushing to get back in the squad.”
