Inverness Caledonian Thistle midfielder is primed for comeback at Ayr United
JOHN Robertson is ready to hand David Carson a key role at Ayr United tomorrow, with the Englishman’s first start for 11 months.
The dynamic midfielder became a mainstay in Caley Thistle’s push for the play-offs before the pandemic saw the plug pulled on the season last March.
A knee injury before a ball was kicked in this season’s shortened Championship campaign extended his wait for action into 2021, before Wednesday night’s substitute bow.
With Caley Thistle tackling the second of four matches in nine days, Robertson was swayed by a desire to keep the ranks fresh and strike on a winning formula after picking up just four of the last 18 available points.
Carson looked sharp and fresh late on in the Queen of the South defeat and Robertson said: “David has been champing at the bit to play, and ready probably since the turn of the year.
“Now he will get an opportunity. We intend to start him on Saturday. His energy and skills coming off the bench on Wednesday helped us get on the ball and get forward.”
Robertson, deeply-frustrated by the midweek setback, insisted the intensity and attitude of the players was right, but detected a rustiness in match sharpness, especially in decision-making given a recent lack of games.
Heading to Somerset Park, where ICT have won in four of their last five visits, the manager said: “We have to dust ourselves down and freshen the team given the tough schedule. We’re not far adrift and we’ve got to use this busy spell as a momentum-builder.
“Wednesday was a chance lost. Now it is a tougher ask because Ayr have only lost one game at home this season. It will be a battle.”
There was good news for injured Aaron Doran (thigh) and Anthony McDonald (knee) with both set to return sooner than expected, possibly within the next few weeks.
