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Manager Stuart Kettlewell pleased with Ross County goalkeeper’s form


By Andrew Henderson

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Ross County manager Stuart Kettlewell says Ross Laidlaw’s form has kept Ross Doohan on the bench so far this season.

Picture - Ken Macpherson, Inverness. St. Mirren(1) v Ross County(1). 22.08.20. Ross County 'keeper Ross Laidlaw made a terrific double-stop to this shop from St.Mirren's Junior Morias.
Picture - Ken Macpherson, Inverness. St. Mirren(1) v Ross County(1). 22.08.20. Ross County 'keeper Ross Laidlaw made a terrific double-stop to this shop from St.Mirren's Junior Morias.

Doohan was a loan signing on the cusp of County’s opening Premiership match against Motherwell, although the deal had been in the works for weeks and the goalkeeper had even played as a trialist against his parent club in a pre-season friendly.

His relatively late arrival meant that Laidlaw was trusted with the gloves at the start of the season though, and so far he has given Kettlewell no reason to switch things up between the sticks.

Last year Laidlaw was in and out of the starting 11 at times as he battled for the jersey with another loan signing, Nathan Baxter from Chelsea, but competition seems to bring the best out of the ex-Hibernian man.

“Ross has been excellent,” Kettlewell insisted.

“We brought Ross Doohan in before the start of the season. We had him earmarked from way, way back but with the goalkeeping situation at Celtic, it didn’t materialise until the season started.

“That probably gave us a scenario where we had to bed Doohan in but since then, Laidlaw hasn’t put a foot wrong.

“He has been excellent and very good over pre-season and the first six games.

“I have no complaints with him at this stage. I hope he continues that same vein of form but he is being pushed hard by Doohan, who also hasn’t put a foot wrong and has been involved in the Scotland under-21s.”

This weekend Kettlewell has no decision to make, as Doohan is ineligible to face his parent club.

That will most likely mean Ross Munro comes on to the substitute’s bench.

The highly rated youngster – who won promotion on loan at Raith Rovers last season – stepping in to deputise for Laidlaw is a sign of the Staggies’ strength in depth in that department.

“Doohan can’t play on Saturday but the goalkeeping situation we have here is one I am very comfortable with,” Kettlewell explained.

“I say to everyone that our goalkeeping coach Scott Thomson is terrific.

“He is a close friend and has been terrific for me in my coaching pathway and goalkeeping-wise he is somebody I trust wholeheartedly.

“We sit with two really good goalkeepers and Ross Munro and a young 16-year-old as well that has been a big part of the first-team group since the start of pre-season.

“It all sits in a good place for us in terms of goalkeeping.”

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