Kerr: We can win relegation scrap

Kerr thought about turning his back on the game before Caley Thistle boss Butcher recruited him last week.The 27-year-old midfielder became disillusioned at failing to secure a club after being released by Hibernian in September.But, following his appointment at Inverness last month, Butcher wasted little time snapping up a player whom he also brought to Motherwell in the summer of 2004.Kerr made his debut coming on as a substitute in last weekend's Homecoming Scottish Cup win over Kilmarnock.It was only his second first-team game in almost a year, ensuring it was a moment he cherished."It was just great to be back involved on a Saturday afternoon again," Kerr said."The lads had done extremely well and when I came on it was just about seeing the final 15 minutes out and making sure of our place in the next round of the cup."Kerr was signed for Hibs by John Collins in the summer of 2007 but once Mixu Paatelainen took over just over year ago, he went from first-team regular to fringe player."The first six months went well enough, or as well as I could have expected, at Easter Road," he said."But when John left and the new manager came in with his own plans and decisions - which were different from what I wanted - it was time to move on."Kerr knows he faces a fight to become a regular part of Butcher's plans, but for now he is happy to to whatever he can to help his new club avoid the drop.He said: "For me, it's all about proving my fitness to the manager because I've not been playing first-team football for a few months and the lads have been playing exceptionally well, so there's no complaints for me about sitting on the bench."When the manager gives me the shout, I've got to prove it's my position to keep."There's great competition for places here, which is good."Ian Black and Russell Duncan have been excellent."They merit their starting place and I'll just need to make sure I'm ready when called upon, whether that be through injuries or suspensions."Kerr experienced a relegation scare two years ago when Motherwell, under current Inverness assistant Maurice Malpas, were dragged down into a dogfight with St Mirren and Dunfermline.He insists Inverness have what it takes to survive.Speaking ahead of Saturday's trip to Dundee United, he said: "To be relegated into the First Division is unthinkable and it means even more to keep the club up."The situation is not ideal being bottom of the table for everybody, but we feel the squad is strong enough."The manager has given the club a new lease of life and I think the lads are comfortable in knowing we can get ourselves out of trouble."The manager has installed self-belief into the side and we're all pulling in the same direction."So we've got to continue that and build on the performances over the last couple of weeks and make sure it doesn't get treated like a honeymoon period."

Source: Team_Talk