Former Newcastle United youngster Ryan Barrett hoping to earn extended Inverness Caley Thistle stay
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Ryan Barrett is determined to earn a long-term deal after answering Caley Thistle’s unexpected SOS call.
The injury-hit Championship side’s approach caught the ex-Newcastle United under-23s defender completely by surprise.
Back home in Newcastle, Barrett (21) was contemplating another week of solo runs and gym sessions after battling back from a knee injury and the blow of being released by his boyhood club in the summer.
He has agreed a deal through to January, but is hoping to make it permanent.
“The approach came completely out of the blue,” Barrett said. “I’ve been keeping myself fit since I left Newcastle in the summer, but I’ve not had a club.
“The gaffer here said he was keen to offer me the opportunity and I was literally in the car heading north the next day.
“I didn’t need to dig out a map or anything. I knew Inverness was a canny way away! I’m just buzzing. Since coming up, the manager has made it clear that I can earn a longer-term deal, so I’m just going to do what I can to impress in the short time I’ve got.”
Training on his own in Newcastle has been tough.
“I was struggling with a knee injury at the time I left the club, which certainly didn’t help my chances of staying,” he said. “I was on the sidelines quite a lot which was really frustrating.
“But with the takeover happening and the signings Newcastle have made, it was always going to be tough to break through.
“Going into the back end of last season, I knew I needed to move somewhere else, and thankfully I’ve now got a chance at Caley Thistle.”
A footballing father was behind the young Geordie’s opportunity with Wales, with caps earned at under-17s level.
“I’m from Newcastle and my dad Paul also played for United before joining Wrexham,” Barrett, who made his debut from the bench on Saturday, said.
“I was born down there and it gave me the chance to play for Wales at youth level.
“Men’s football, after academy football, is a big step up but something I really need.
“Some of the young lads at Newcastle went to Scotland last season on loan and told us how good it was. I’m just going to throw myself into it with all I have.
“On the first day I came in, all the lads took a little bit of time to speak to me individually, which I really appreciated. Hopefully I can give them a lift at a time when there’s a lot of injuries.”
