Graham backs Ross County's Stewart to have international future
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Brian Graham has tipped fellow Ross County striker Ross Stewart to play for the Scottish national team in the future.
Stewart has hit the ground running this season, scoring seven goals in his 10 appearances in all competitions.
Only 23-years-old, Stewart has become a key part of the Staggies squad, despite being behind Billy Mckay, Declan McManus and Graham when he first made the move to Dingwall.
The tall striker has been praised by managers Stuart Kettlewell and Steven Ferguson in the past for the range he has in game game – with his pace and technique adding to his physical presence.
So Graham thinks that is something the current Scotland set-up is lacking, and can see Stewart making an impact on the international scene if he keeps finding the net.
"I think Ross has taken the step up particularly well," Graham said.
“I was thrilled for him in the first game of the season when he scored his first Premier League goal. I said to him before the game ‘go and get yourself on the scoresheet’ because when you look back in years to come, you can always say you scored in the Premier League.
“It is great for him – he’s doing particularly well and I hope he continues it throughout the full season because I think he can go far in the game.
“His physique brings an extra dimension to his game. He has the potential to go to the next level.
"I was speaking to one of the boys here a few weeks ago, even before he started scoring goals, and said I think he has something Scotland’s not got. I said I could tip him to play for Scotland – he has the attributes to play the lone role up front.
“He’s tall, he’s quick and he can hold the ball up – and he’s aggressive. If he keeps doing particularly well this season he has a great chance to go and progress his career.”
Graham has taken on something of a mentoring role for Stewart, although he says there is a generally good atmosphere among the striking options at the club.
That is not a guarantee at football clubs, where competition for places can be rife.
So Graham thinks that has helped Stewart come out of his shell and perform on the pitch.
“I travel in with him and would try to put the arm around him when I can give him advice if he’s doing something wrong," Graham explained.
“I think he takes that on board. The two of us have a great relationship.
“To be honest, he was quite quiet when he first came in last year. It took him a couple of months to come out of his shell, although that’s part and parcel of coming to a new club.
“He’s at a club, now, where he feels extremely confident, extremely comfortable in his own manner about the place.
“He’s a good laugh, full of mischief and we have that togetherness in the dressing room – it’s a good place to be.
“I’ve been at places before where strikers don’t really talk to strikers, but it’s not like that. The three strikers here – me, Billy Mckay and Ross – travel in together and have a good laugh. We’re good pals.
“There’s no negative effect that I’ve seen at previous clubs. Obviously, whoever is left out is disappointed – that’s just natural, but as soon as we cross the line on a Saturday, we’re backing each other to the hilt."
That camaraderie will continue this afternoon as County travel to North Lanarkshire to take on Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership.
Graham has fond memories of Fir Park, having scored twice there in January to knock the Steelmen out of the Scottish Cup when the Staggies were still in the Championship.
He is optimistic that County can produce a repeat performance to take all three points back to Dingwall.
“I’ve good memories of Motherwell," he recalled.
"It was a good result in the cup and, hopefully, we can go back there in the league and get the three points.
“There was no fear then and I don’t think there will be any fear going to any ground this year. We have confidence in our own ability and I think we’ve started quite well, apart from the Livingston game at home.
“They went to Hearts and scored three, which is no mean feat. They’ve had a great start, but we’ve had a great start in what we want to do.
“We’re going well, they’re going well – anything can happen. If we take our chances, we’ll have a chance. It’s as simple as that.”
