Don Cowie is not feeling pressure of looming transfer window deadline as Ross County manager insists he is happy with options already in Dingwall
Ross County manager Don Cowie insists he is not feeling any pressure to make further signings before the end of the transfer window.
The Staggies have already brought in Nohan Kenneh, Kieran Phillips, Zac Ashworth and Jonathan Tomkinson this month, as well as extending Jordan Amissah’s contract until the end of the season and recalling Dylan Smith, George Robesten and Andrew Macleod from their respective loan deals.
On the other hand, Eamonn Brophy, Max Sheaf, Ricki Lamie and Victor Loturi have all left Dingwall on a mix of temporary and permanent deals.
With Monday night’s transfer deadline looming large, speculation will run rife about whether any late deals will be done.
Cowie though, is remaining relaxed as he does not see the need for urgent reinforcements.
“We are in a good place right now with the squad, as we have seen with the younger lads coming back from loan,” he stressed.
“That was always the thinking. I have spoken about it many times – if there was an opportunity for someone who has not quite had the game time, we would help them to get that.
“That’s what happened in Victor Loturi’s case. It has been quite a frustrating season for him, so he gets an opportunity to go to a fantastic club in a big league. It gives him that spotlight to try and get back into the Canadian national team.
“Right now, there’s nothing happening in terms of players coming in. That’s not to say nothing will happen, but if nothing did happen I’m more than comfortable with the squad that we’ve got.
“We’re in a good place. We’ve managed to recruit, and the three younger lads coming back adds a freshness to the squad and keeps everyone on their toes.
“It’s healthy, and there is always the chance that you could pick up injuries along the way, so if we feel there is someone out there who enhances us and makes us stronger going into the latter stages of the season we’ll look to do it. If not, we’re in a good place.”
While there may not be new signings to add to County’s ranks before this weekend’s match against Rangers, Cowie’s squad will be stronger for the return of Nohan Kenneh, who was ineligible to face his parent club Hibernian last Saturday.
Kacper Lopata is also back in full training, while Jack Grieves has one more weekend to sit out as he progresses through the concussion recovery protocol.
It will actually be the Staggies’ first trip to Ibrox this season, as their previous away day to Rangers was to Hampden Park, but Cowie will be desperate to avoid a repeat of the 6-0 defeat to the Glasgow giants that day.
“It’s a real challenge for us, despite them playing on Thursday,” Cowie reasoned.
“I believe they have got the best home record in the country, which shows the size of the challenge we have got, but at the same time I’ve got to look at it and think we’re looking to make it four wins on the trot away from home.
“When we played them at Hampden, and we let the game get away from us too easily. I think last Saturday was a sign of our improvement in that.
“When you chase the game and open yourself up, you become very vulnerable against top quality opposition, and they punish you, but on Saturday we spoke at half-time about making sure that didn’t happen.
“A game can change at any moment as long as there’s one goal in it, and that’s exactly what happened.
“Going to Rangers and Celtic, it’s very much the same. You’ve got to try and make sure, going into that last 15 minutes, you’ve got that opportunity to get something out of it.