Inverness Caley Thistle goalkeeper Lewis Munro is impressing on loan at Highland League club Nairn County
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Goalkeeper Lewis Munro has impressed since arriving at Nairn County on loan from Inverness Caledonian Thistle, says manager Steven Mackay.
The 17-year-old arrived at Station Park last month to strengthen the options in the goalkeeping department since Will Counsell left the club earlier this season.
He signed a loan deal which will keep him at Nairn County until at least the end of the year.
Munro joined Inverness Caledonian Thistle in 2015 where he has worked his way through their youth ranks.
He spent time on loan at North Caledonian League club Loch Ness including earlier this season, where his performances impressed management at Nairn to bring him to Station Park.
Mackay has been pleased with Munro’s contribution in matches saying he has shown he is a goalkeeper of real quality despite his young age.
“Lewis is only 17 and is still very young and learning the game,” he said.
“He is learning as he is playing, we are happy with his contribution and the job that he is doing.
“Hopefully he will take value out of being here and playing senior football.
“Hopefully this will stand him in good stead going forward.”
Mackay says he still thinks the best is yet to come from Nairn County as they stretched their unbeaten run to seven games after a 1-1 draw with Formartine United in the Highland League.
After a disastrous start to the campaign which saw Nairn County fail to win their first 12 matches in all competitions and saw former manager Ronnie Sharp resign, Nairn have surged up the table to 10th.
Nairn have won five of their last seven matches in all competitions, including four in the Highland League as the club’s fortunes have improved since Mackay was appointed as manager in October.
He says the players have to be commended for working hard to ensure they moved away from the bottom of the table.
“You always look for the players to buy into your philosophy when you come into the club,” he said.
“I can never doubt their work ethic and togetherness and buy into what we want to do.
“We are trying to get them fitter, get them more aggressive, with the ball and without it, the run that we are on is great.
“But I feel there is more to come, they have to believe in themselves more at times.
“We have an important games next week against Deveronvale and then back to back games with Clachnacuddin so we are looking to keep it up.”
Nairn County went into the lead 10 minutes before half time as Angus Dey connected with a cross from the right wing sent in by Callum Mackay.
Despite his first shot being blocked, he fired home the rebound from 12 yards out.
Formartine equalised mid-way through the second half when he managed to get a flick on to a corner kick which he fired home from eight-yards out.
While disappointed not to hold on to their lead, Mackay says it was a deserved point against one of the heavyweights in the league.
“I was pleased we didn’t lose the game as it was a massive test for us,” said Mackay.
“We are playing a team who are in the top four in the league.
“It was going to be a tough game, we are happy that we have managed to continue the unbeaten run which is great.
“I was disappointed that the game was there to be won, but to be fair it was there for both teams to win.
“Formartine did push to get the winner, I thought we looked more dangerous, but we lacked that killer instinct.
“There was opportunities there where we could have sneaked the winning goal.
“But it shows how far we have come we are disappointed not to win.”
