Aaron Doran pledges to fight for Caley Thistle starting spot after sub appearance against Celtic
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AARON Doran hopes his persistence will be rewarded by Richie Foran as he looks to push for his first start.
After making a substitute appearance in Sunday’s creditable 2-2 draw with champions Celtic, Doran is keen to show what he can do from the start in the coming weeks.
The Irish winger admits he has felt ready for several weeks now but Foran has put the reins on him, not wishing to aggravate his previous knee injury.
Doran accepts his manager is simply looking out for him, given his recent experience with coming back from a long-term injury.
That does not erase his hunger, however, to make his first start in over a year as he has his sights on cementing his place back in the squad.
“I feel sharp – I want to push for a start now,” said Doran, who signed a new two-year contract over the summer. “I feel I could have started a few weeks ago but the gaffer knows what he’s doing. I’m happy to be involved again and to be getting some game time.
“I’m on the bench watching and I just want to get out there and express myself. I want to improve myself and the team. I’ve trained for about two months now and I feel a lot sharper – back to my old self.
“At the start of pre-season I probably was thinking about my knee but I’m doiung everything I used to now. I’m back to my old self, twisting and turning and sprinting. I feel ready to go.”
Doran will act as the clichéd ‘new signing’ when he is given the go-ahead from the start and the former Blackburn Rovers man is keen to rediscover his old form.
From 2013 to 2015 he was a key cog in the Caley Thistle machine, even if he was slowed somewhat by frequent substitute appearances under John Hughes.
However, his penchant for the spectacular goal and more importantly, in the eyes of the fans, goals in the Highland derby, provide memories of just what he is capable of.
The desire is still there from Doran to get back to his old form, which makes him comfortably one of Caley Thistle’s most dangerous players.
“If I get a few starts and play well, I can kick on from there,” he said. “I’ll be pushing to start every game from now on.
“The manager is telling me how well I’m doing in training and the coaches say they’re not going to rush me.
“Richie had a similar type of injury and probably pushed himself too hard, which set him back a bit, so I just need to listen to them.
“I want to make assists and score some goals – I think I can. I’m going to train as hard as I can and push as much as I can.”
Alex Fisher’s late equalising goal was the second dramatic goal in as many home games for the Caley Jags, something which Caley Thistle fans will hope is becoming a welcome habit.
The former Torquay United striker has deserved his moment in the sun more than most, given he suffered a serious injury just three matches into his Inverness career. He spoke candidly to the Inverness Courier last week about his return from injury, his desire to get back on the field and how he is embracing his role in the team as the willing workaholic.
It is something that has not gone unnoticed to Doran, who like Fisher, has undergone his own fitness challenges over the last year.
“We have a good spirit in the dressing room and we never stop.
“We got a 92nd-minute goal against St Johnstone and we’ve done it again. If we can keep that going all season we’ll do well,” he said.
“The last two performances before that we were unlucky not to get something more. We stuck in and we got the draw in the end,” he said. “I think it’s the first goal I’ve been on the pitch for. He deserves it - he gives everything in training.
“Hopefully we can keep the unbeaten run going. The boys played some nice stuff and we stuck in there to get the goal.”
The point against champions Celtic lifts Inverness back off the foot of the table, returning Partick Thistle to the league’s basement. A home fixture against Dundee on Saturday is followed by a trip to Hamilton before the international break.
