Source: Team_Talk
Rooney keen to make impression
Rooney, 20, scored in the Homecoming Scottish Cup win over Kilmarnock earlier this month, taking his tally for the season to six and cementing his place as the club's top goalscorer this season.[LNB]But 19 of his 27 appearances have come from the bench and the Republic of Ireland Under-21 international is keen to be involved more ahead of Saturday's SPL visit of Hibernian.[LNB]He said: "Everyone wants to score goals. As a team, it doesn't matter where the goals come from.[LNB]"Personally, I'm happy with how many goals I've grabbed considering how much time I've played.[LNB]"Hopefully, if I keep getting on and hitting the back of the net, I'll get a starting place and be in the manager's plans.[LNB]"I've been happy with how I've played over the season, whether that be starting or coming off the bench - and I feel I've been doing well lately. I'm always confident of scoring goals if given the chance.[LNB]"Obviously, the manager picks the team he feels is right for the game and has stuck by the team who have played well in recent weeks, which is important to get consistency in the squad."[LNB]Inverness are aiming to continue their recent good run under Butcher - which has included league draws against Celtic and Dundee United - and pick up their first SPL win in more than two months when Hibs visit the Caledonian Stadium.[LNB]With four of Caley Thistle's next five games being at home, Rooney believes it is vital they take full advantage.[LNB]He said: "Earlier in the season, it wasn't a great place for us to play at. For some strange reason, we couldn't take anything from our home games.[LNB]"But the last two matches have been different and we know how important it is to make the ground difficult for teams coming here. Hopefully, we can do that in the next few weeks.[LNB]"Against Celtic, we were happy with a point because we didn't expect to get anything from the match and, in the end, we were disappointed not to take all three.[LNB]"Again at Tannadice, we conceded late on when we deserved three points - but the signs are good and we know how important it is to build on that with a good amount of home matches coming up.[LNB]"No-one really knows why teams get a lift when a new manager comes in, but Maurice (Malpas) and the gaffer have given everyone a new lease of life and raised the confidence in the dressing room and we feel like we're going to win games when we go into them."[LNB]Eric Odhiambo and Dougie Imrie will lead the Inverness attack again, with Brian Kerr and Roy McBain likely to replace the suspended Ian Black and Russell Duncan in midfield.[LNB]Rooney added: "They (Black and Duncan) have done well in the last few games but there are players in the squad who are capable of replacing them in the midfield. The likes of Roy and Brian can come in and do a job.[LNB]"Hibs are a good side but, on our day, we can beat anybody in this league and we've showed that in the performances over the last few weeks."[LNB][LNB]
