Butcher makes double signing
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Both players have agreed terms with Caley Thistle and there are more on the way with Butcher expecting “one or two” new arrivals later in the week.
Shinnie, the older brother of Inverness defender Graeme, impressed in the three pre-season friendlies that the Highland Capital club have had so far, playing just off Richie Foran in attack.
He followed up an encouraging performance in the 2-0 win over Clach by scoring twice as Caley Thistle overcame Forres Mechanics 7-0.
Shinnie (21) also featured in Saturday’s 3-0 success away to Elgin — a game that Meekings missed as he had to travel back to England for family reasons.
The defender, however, did enough at Clach and Forres to convince Butcher to offer the 18-year-old a permanent deal.
“We feel that offering both players two years is right,” he said. “It gives them that little bit of security as they look to get their careers back on track.
“Josh never played a game for the first-team at Ipswich, but he was a regular fixture in their academy side and he came highly recommended by my former team-mate Russell Osman, who is now coach of the under-18s team at the club.
“Andrew has been at Rangers and spent time on loan at Dundee. He’s a very exciting player who is capable of scoring goals.
“He’s not a direct replacement for Adam Rooney because he’s a different type of player. He tends to operate a bit deeper and likes to link the play between midfield and attack.”
