Former Newcastle United and Liverpool youth Luis Longstaff determined to complete ‘massive achievement’ by keeping Inverness Caley Thistle in League One
Luis Longstaff says Inverness Caledonian Thistle are determined to get over the finishing line and secure their League One status for next season.
Longstaff is one of a handful of more senior players who remained at the club this season following relegation from the Championship last summer, and has seen Caley Thistle drop to the foot of the table after administration triggered a 15-point deduction.
However, they have fought their way back well, to the extent that going into their final two league matches of the season they are one point ahead of the relegation play-off place, currently occupied by Annan Athletic.
While Inverness take on champions Arbroath in the Highland capital tomorrow afternoon, should results go their way their League One place could be sealed this weekend.
That, according to Longstaff, would be a major achievement for a club who many could easily have written off earlier in the campaign.
"Ever since the 15-point deduction, we have spoken about how it would be some achievement just to stay up,” he explained.
"We can't lose sight of that. It has come down to the last couple of games, but even if it takes until the Montrose game next weekend and we stay up, it will still be a massive achievement.
"We can't get ahead of ourselves, we still need to do it, but we're close and we've put ourselves in a good position.
"When we got that 15-point deduction that, with two games to go, we'd be one point above the relegation zone with a massive goal advantage, we'd have taken it.
"Yet, there have been points this season when we've dropped points and we could have been safe by now, but we've got these last two games and we want to push on over the line.”
Individually, Longstaff returned to action last weekend at Stenhousemuir as a half-time substitute, marking his comeback from a seven-week injury lay-off with a combination of hamstring and groin complaints.
At one point it was feared he could miss the rest of the season, but the 24-year-old says he is ready to play his part in the final games to keep ICT up.
"I had my hamstring injury then an ongoing groin problem throughout the year, so I did think it would be me out for the remainder of the season, but the recovery has gone quite well,” Longstaff said.
"I always wanted to get back for the last couple of games – that was always the aim, but I thought that might be a bit unrealistic. It gave me something to aim for, and here we are.
"It's horrible when you're not playing and not being able to help. It's good to be back, so hopefully we can now push it over the line in the next couple of weeks.
"I'm 100 per cent ready to contribute and help keep this club up. Being out for six or seven weeks gives you a bit of a kick to be ready when you can.”
Longstaff comes back into a team that only trails Arbroath in points amassed since Scott Kellacher came to the helm in October, meaning that without their points deduction the Caley Jags could have been in the promotion mix.
Having seen first hand the positivity that Kellacher brings to the club, Longstaff credits the head coach with making a big difference in what has clearly been a trying time for ICT.
"Everyone can tell by the performances and results, the manager has made a massive difference,” Longstaff added.
"Even when you come in and walk around the stadium any day, it's a positive atmosphere. With two games to go, we're a one point above Annan in the relegation play-off place, but it's still the same positive atmosphere that we've had all season.
"We've gone on some good unbeaten runs and that helps us on the pitch. It allows everyone to play with a bit more freedom.
"The situation has been a difficult one, but it helps everyone rally around. It's almost like it’s us against everybody else – we've had this setback, and we want to get through it.
"It has helped that a lot of boys are here from last year and the coaches had personal relationships with everybody.
"The manager has not lost that since he took charge. He's kept that with each player, but also there is the management side where it's not just a personal relationship.
"He's been brilliant since he took over. I can't speak highly enough of him.”
