Ross County's Fontaine sees game differently since starting coaching
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Liam Fontaine says he approaches his game in a different way since he has started coaching.
While out injured in the second half of last season, Fontaine alongside Don Cowie began to get involved with Ross County's under-18s side, where he has continued to help out even after returning to fitness.
Over the summer the English defender started work on achieving his UEFA A License as he looks to take another step up the coaching ladder.
But as a player still first and foremost, Fontaine says it is different when you start to look towards the other side of the dugout.
"If anyone goes through a coaching badge over a certain level, I think you do look at the game differently," Fontaine explained.
"Not just your own personal game, I think you see things differently. It's education, isn't it?
"I try and talk when I'm coaching the young boys, you have to ask them how much they watch football, how much you learn about your game when you're away from actually being on the pitch.
"It's how much you want it when you're away from the pitch, not just when you're on it."
But the 33-year-old is not looking at hanging us his boots any time soon.
In fact, after six months out of action last season he is keen to make the most of every moment he can play football, and he is loving being back in the mix.
"My hunger for the game is massive, probably the most it has been for a long time," he said.
"I'm at a place where I enjoy my football, I enjoy the people that I work with, and the managers have a different outlook on the game and the way they approach it.
"I spent the whole summer itching to get back, I started on my UEFA A License for my coaching as well, so I was living football even in the off-season.
"Since I've been back I've just buzzing and enjoying being out on the pitch every single day. Every single session I have a smile on my face, I just love being out on the pitch at the moment.
"That was my first league start since the actual injury last week, it had been so long. It was great to be back out there, get the win and get the clean sheet."
Today County travel to Tynecastle to face Hearts in their first away match of the campaign.
Fontaine knows the Staggies will probably not have it as easy as they did against Hamilton last weekend, but he is confident they can take something from the game.
"We'll have that fight, and know how to hang on to a game and try to get back in," he added.
"We're always going to be a threat, because at the moment we're creating a lot of chances, and we've got some great individuals in the squad.
"We're going to go there and we need to be first and foremost hard to beat, because they are a good team.
"They've got some good players, and if we can keep their key players relatively quiet then I think we can stay in the game. Why not?
"They don't know too much about us maybe, so hopefully we can go there and get some sort of result."
