Point to prove for new Ross County signing in loan spell
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Ross County’s deadline day signing, Charlie Lakin, wants to prove to Birmingham City manager Aitor Karanka that it was the wrong decision to let him leave the West Midlands club on loan.
The 21-year-old midfielder has been a key part of Birmingham’s pre-season preparations after spending last season on loan at Stevenage in England’s League Two, and played all 90 minutes in their first game of the season against Cambridge United in the League Cup.
However, the arrivals of Mikel San Jose and Riley McGree in the last two weeks of the transfer window pushed Lakin down the pecking order at St Andrew’s.
So when the opportunity to ply his trade in the Scottish Premiership this season came up, he jumped at the chance to head north to Dingwall.
Now, Lakin is aiming to show his parent club why he should have been featuring in light blue this season by performing well on a regular basis in Ross County colours.
“Considering I thought I’d had such a good pre-season and started the first cup game, I thought it was going to be a good season for me,” Lakin explained.
“I didn’t think I’d be starting every game in the league.
“I knew the manager would be bringing players in, but when he brought as many in as he did, it was disappointing for myself. I just know I did well, but it is the manager’s prerogative.
“I definitely have a point to prove to Birmingham.
“That’s what I aim to do – come here, help Ross County as much as I can and, by doing that, I’m going to prove a point to Birmingham.
“Hopefully, they’ll be thinking ‘we shouldn’t have let him go out’.”
After overcoming a serious injury, going out on loan to Stevenage last season gave Lakin a chance to play regular senior football.
He is looking to kick on again with a new challenge at a higher level with Ross County, aiming to play as many games as possible.
One element that could work in his favour is his versatility, with Lakin previously featuring in the middle of the park, on the left wing and even in defence.
“My preferred position is number eight, centre midfield, but that versatility is what I’ve been brought up with,” he said.
“I’ve always been able to play left back, centre mid, as a number 10, a six and wide left.
“Having the understanding of all these positions really helps me. I’m used to it.
“If I’m playing centre mid, I know what the wide left players would want and where the left back will be.
“It helps you know where team-mates would want the ball and where they will be.”
