Inverness Caley Thistle manager Duncan Ferguson optimistic over chances of getting loan for new striker over the line imminently
Duncan Ferguson was last night close to sealing a deal to bring in a young Scottish Premiership striker on loan.
The Caley Thistle manager was fighting against interest from “three or four” Scottish Championship clubs, but hoped the near guarantee of regular action in Inverness would swing the deal his way.
Ferguson is confident the so far unnamed individual is capable of bringing goals to a side that has struggled to hit the back of the net regularly, scoring just six times in seven league games.
It is understood that, as we went to press, Caley Thistle and the parent club had reached agreement in principle on the deal, but had not yet tied it up with the player.
Ferguson, ready to throw the signing straight into tomorrow’s home clash with Stenhousemuir, said: “It’s ongoing – we’re getting close. We’re hoping to get him in by the weekend.
“He is a Scottish lad. We’ve been in negotiations for quite a long time now. We’re hoping that he is going to pick Inverness. He is a very good player and he will get game-time here.
“That’s why we’re hopefully ahead of the rest in as much as we’re going to make sure he gets into our team, and he’ll start the games.
“We’re up against three or four Championship clubs. We’re hoping to get it done today, if we can, and he’ll come in for the weekend.”
Ferguson is more than happy with Caley Thistle defensively, with just six goals conceded in those seven games.
But with one win, five draws and one defeat to their name so far, he knows the final bit of creativity and killer touch has been lacking.
Ferguson said: “We have to maximise our home fixtures. Overall, I think home form has been quite good, and we’re undefeated at home, but we need to turn these draws into wins.
“We've had a lot of good build-up play. The middle of the pitch has been good and it is just the final third. That’s the difficult part of the game, isn't it?
“We did reasonably well last year in terms of scoring goals, this year has been a wee bit of a struggle. That’s the part we need to be better at.”
Ferguson will be reunited with an old Everton team-mate as opposition manager Gary Naysmith brings Stennie north.
He added: “Stenhousemuir are above us in the league. If we can beat them, we’ll go above them.
“They are a high scoring team and we’re a low scoring team. They have conceded quite a few as well. It is going to be a tough match.
“I remember Gary well. He came down to Everton and he was a very good full-back, committed. He has done well in his coaching and had quite a few jobs at quite a young age.
“It will be nice to see him at the weekend.”
Flynn Duffy is still recovering from punctured lung and fractured ribs – and six weeks away from a return.
Keith Bray missed training all week and is out through illness, while Ethan Cairns has ongoing health issues.
Ex-Dunfermline midfielder Paul Allan returns to the squad after injury.
