Don Cowie challenges Ross County’s younger players to make an impression as Staggies prepare for return to pre-season training
Ross County manager Don Cowie says pre-season provides an opportunity for the club’s younger players to stake their claim for a first team spot.
The Staggies return to training on Monday as preparations begin in earnest for the 2024/25 campaign.
It was not that long ago that Dylan Smith impressed then-boss Malky Mackay so much at this time of the year that he was integrated into the first-team picture as a 16-year-old.
With Smith among a group of talented youngsters in Dingwall, alongside the likes of Connall Ewan, Logan Ross, Andrew MacLeod and George Robesten, Cowie has challenged the group to make a similar impact this summer.
“As we always do, we have a plan for them,” Cowie explained.
“Coming in for pre-season, that is their opportunity to show what they can do and see if they can make that step up.
“We have a group of younger professionals who have done really well and progressed excellently over the last three years, going from loan moves in the Highland League to clubs like Elgin.
“Now it’s about trying to make that next step, and they will be part of that group when we come back in on Monday.
“Then it’s about having a clear pathway for them. Are they ready to come into the first team environment on a full time basis, and be part of the matchday squad, or is it more beneficial for them to go out on loan for another six months to keep their development going?
“We’re really excited about them. There’s a group who have been at the club for three years now, and seeing how they have improved over that time has been really refreshing.”
It will feel like something of a fresh start for the Staggies after securing their Premiership status in a play-off at the end of last season.
They ended up winning comfortably over the two legs against Raith Rovers, perhaps a mark of the progress they have made since Cowie was handed the reigns on an interim basis initially.
His challenge now will be to maintain that feel-good factor after a break to try and avoid another relegation fight next season.
“We got real momentum at the end of last season,” Cowie added.
“We’ve now had the break, but a lot of the squad will be back next season, so they will have good memories from that period that they can reflect on and use the experience of that going into the new season.
“It’s going to be different. There will be different teams who will want to come and beat us, but we have to prepare for that and be ready for that.
“It’s also then about trying to add to the squad that we’ve got to help us improve.”
