Scott Boden wants to get back in to Caley Thistle's starting line-up
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SCOTT Boden is determined to make up for lost time and show he can cut his teeth with Caley Thistle.
The summer signing from English League Two side Newport County, who joined on a three-year deal, has largely been kicking his heels on the bench with chances limited.
The form of Alex Fisher and new signing Lonsana Doumbouya, backed by free-scoring midfielders and defenders, have seen Boden not start an ICT game since the 5-1 loss at Hearts in late August.
Boden has scored five times this season, with his hat-trick in the 7-0 Betfred Cup rout of Arbroath coming amid singles against Dundee United and Ross County.
The 26-year-old, who netted 15 times in 51 games for Newport, is determined to show boss Richie Foran he knows where the net is.
He told the Highland News: “It’s been more than two months since I started a game, so it’s been hard. I have come on for half an hour at the most. Obviously I want more minutes like everyone else.
“I know I have to work hard to get back into the thoughts of the manager. It’s down to you as a person. You have to work hard and look to take your chances when it comes along.”
It means he’s watched the opposition from the sidelines and, although that’s not where he wants to be, he says he’s seen enough to suggest those who slate Scotland’s top division are wide of the mark.
Boden said: “This is not far off from what I have played in before. There’s not really a massive difference, in my opinion, from the Scottish Premiership to say League One in England.
“A club like Celtic are perhaps the exception to that. You get players moving between Scotland and England all the time.
“If people are looking at this league negatively then they are wrong because it’s a good standard. Players wouldn’t move here (from England) if they thought about the league in that way.”
Celtic, who beat Caley Thistle last weekend, seem destined to win their sixth title in a row, and Boden reckons their class where it matters most is the big difference.
He said: “I can only speak for face value because I’ve not played against them. When Scott Sinclair scored up here in the 2-2 draw this season it came from us giving the ball away and got punished.
“That’s the difference between the calibre of player they have compared to others in the league. If you lose possession on the halfway line then they will punish you.”
