Ross ready to step up recovery
Inverness midfielder Nick Ross says he needs to add both stamina and goals to his game as he continues his recovery following four months out injured in Wednesday's SPL clash with Kilmarnock.
The 21-year-old dislocated his shoulder in August but only returned to action just before the new year.
He has made three brief substitute appearances since then before reclaiming his starting role for games against Kilmarnock and Celtic as he readjusts to the hectic pace of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.
But Scotland Under-21 cap Ross - who struck the opener in Saturday's 3-1 defeat to Neil Lennon's SPL champions - insists he needs to complement his growing lung capacity with an eye for goal.
He told Press Association Sport: "It was very good to get on the scoresheet at the weekend. It's something I need to add to my game. In my first season in the SPL it took me 30-odd games to get a goal.
"So it was good to get one against Celtic after coming back from being injured.
"It was just a shame about the result and we'll look to do better.
Ross' return to the Caley Thistle squad has coincided with the team's worst run of form so far this season.
Despite sitting joint-second in the top-flight standings, the Highlanders have won just one of their last seven matches.
They were also knocked out of two cup competitions in the space of a week with defeats to Hearts and Kilmarnock amid a run that now stretches to four consecutive loses.
The visit of Killie to the Caledonian Stadium on league business now offers Ross and his colleagues a chance to try and right their ailing vessel.
He said: "Maybe a month ago, we'd have won a couple of these games. We're playing well right now but just not getting the results.
"We went to Kilmarnock and played quite well but got beat 2-0, then did the same at St Mirren.
"Results just aren't going for us but we are trying hard to change that.
"However, every time we look at the table, we know we are having a good season and that a couple of results isn't really a set-back, just a few games where we could have done better."
Cammy Bell will sit out a second game in succession for Kilmarnock as he recovers from a hip injury.
The goalkeeper, linked with a pre-contract switch to Ibrox, was replaced for Saturday's 2-0 win over Motherwell by understudy Kyle Letheran and will once more watch on from the stands.
Cillian Sheridan and Rory McKeown have also been ruled out.
With those three first-team regulars unavailable, boss Kenny Shiels will once again put his faith in youngsters such as Ross Barbour, Mark O'Hara and William Gros having lost three players in the January transfer window.
He did add to his group with the free-transfer arrivals of Celtic youngster Rabiu Ibrahim and Sammy Clingan from Doncaster Reserves but resisted the urge to add loan signings to his group, opting instead to give the youngsters a chance.
Shiels said: "We want to be a club who grows our own players and doesn't bring in loan players, because that is a real football club.
"I don't blame clubs for going down the loan route but what we are doing is impeccable. We're doing it the right way.
"Not bringing in loan players massively disadvantages you but that's the way we are going."
Source: PA
