Ross County defender Jake Vokins feels exposure to first team football in Dingwall has helped on-loan Southampton man improve on the pitch
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Ross County full back Jake Vokins feels his loan spell in Dingwall has helped him develop as a player.
The 22-year-old had only played a handful of senior games before making the temporary move to the Global Energy Stadium – even then spending spells on the sidelines due to injury in the Highlands – but has played 18 times in all competitions so far this season.
That exposure to first team football is what any player needs to take the next step in their career, and Vokins feels his time with the Staggies has served him well to date.
"Obviously it was very disappointing getting that injury at the start of the season," he reflected.
"I had to work hard to get back fit and get back in the team, but for me personally it has been very good to get so many games under my belt, and to make that top six as a team.
"Playing men's football is very different to academy football in England. Getting that experience and being in the dressing room, working with the staff, everything has helped me massively improve as a player.
"It's about decision making. In the academy, it's all about getting the ball and playing it out – we still do that, but there are times where that's not on and it's about being street-smart and making the right decision at the right time.
"You've got to man up really, because it's men's football. Having played a couple of games in England I know what's it's like, so getting it week in and week out has definitely helped me improve.
"Southampton have been very happy with my progress. They watch every one of my games, and I get feedback on every single game that I've done, so they have been very supportive as well."
Vokins was one of the first signings made by County manager Malky Mackay, third in the door last summer following the arrivals of Ross Callachan and Dominic Samuel.
A hectic summer in the transfer market was followed by a tumultuous start to the season, with Covid cases forcing the Dingwall outfit out of the League Cup group stage before the team went 10 league matches without a win.
Since then though the turnaround at the Global Energy Stadium has been spectacular. Since the winter break they are third in the form table, a run that has seen Vokins and co make it into the top half of the table by the split, giving them every chance of qualifying for continental competition for the first time next season.
Recent days have seen Mackay linked with the vacant manager's role at Hibernian, who dismissed Shaun Maloney after just four months in charge, and Vokins believes the Staggies boss has played a vital role in the side's success this season.
"He's been massively important," Vokins insisted.
"When he came in he put his stamp on the group and how he wanted us to play and behave, on and off the pitch. We always are together, and we've stuck to his ways.
"I think that's shown on the pitch especially, which has made us a tighter-knit group altogether. He has definitely helped us a lot.
"I had a Zoom call with him before I signed, and we had a long, good chat about what he wanted from me and what he wanted from his team, and that conversation persuaded me to come up – it's ticked all the boxes since then."
