Nightingale sings praises at Ross County since arriving at Dingwall
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WILL Nightingale is already hooked on life at Ross County after Saturday’s Celtic Park experience eclipsed the day he faced Bukayo Saka.
County’s summer signing from AFC Wimbledon enjoyed his previous best career moment in September 2021 as he man-marked the Arsenal and England superstar before 56,000 fans at the Emirates on cup duty.
The centre-half had also been an unused sub before 47,000 at Wembley in a January 2018 cup defeat to Tottenham, while helping the Dons spring a shock FA Cup victory over West Ham in January 2019.
Nothing compared to the white hot atmosphere in the east end of Glasgow, though, with Nightingale – 20 years after joining the Dons aged eight – absolutely relishing his fresh start on loan in the Highlands.
“It’s been really good. I’ve only been here a couple of weeks, but the club has signed someone else now so I no longer feel like the new boy. I was the shiny new toy at first, now I’m cast aside!” the 28-year-old joked.
“Everyone has been so welcoming. A lot of the boys have taken a similar career path. It’s funny, you come up here thinking you won’t know anyone, but I’ve played against six or seven of them, and played with Ben Purrington.
“It was a massive pull for me, the chance to get to play against teams like Celtic or Rangers.
“It’s so nice up here. Dingwall is a quiet town, but it’s lovely. As much as I’m settled and enjoying it, I’m up here to play football and I just want the games to come.
“Down south, we’ve had some good cup runs, so I’ve had the chance to play against some good sides – West Ham, Tottenham, Liverpool and Arsenal.
“I played against Saka in front of a similar attendance, but the atmosphere at Celtic was just another level. I’ve not experienced that to be fair. We did well, but I never like losing.”
Nightingale has another two years on his deal in London, but is keen to spread his wings.
Blown away by County’s facilities, he is keen to forge a strong partnership with skipper Jack Baldwin and the rest of his defensive cohorts.
“I played against Jack a few times. I think he’s a top player,” he said. “He’s been brilliant with me since I came in. It’s important to build those relationships and the more you play with someone, the better the partnership as you start to understand how they play.
“When you’re on the same wavelength, it only gets better.”
