Caley Thistle young stars Cameron Harper and Roddy MacGregor can follow footsteps of Ryan Christie, says head coach Billy Dodds
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CALEY Thistle head coach Billy Dodds believes teenage stars Cameron Harper and Roddy MacGregor can follow in the footsteps of Ryan Christie by playing for Scotland one day.
The duo signed new deals to commit their future to Inverness Caledonian Thistle this week as they prepare for tomorrow’s top of the table clash against Partick Thistle.
Full-back Harper (19) signed a two-year extension to his contract which will keep him at the club until 2024.
Attacking midfielder MacGregor (19) also signed a two-year extension, which will keep him at the club until 2024.
The pair are the latest players to come off the Caley Thistle Academy conveyor belt and break into the first-team squad.
Dodds recognises the club has a proud history of producing talented young players, with Christie, who moved from Celtic to Bournemouth last week, being the most prominent of the club’s alumni.
Christie played for Scotland during the latest World Cup qualifiers, and Dodds says that academy graduates, such as Harper and MacGregor, must have the ambition to do the same in the future.
In the meantime, he is delighted they have dedicated their short-term future at Caley Thistle.
“I am delighted that the two of them have signed,” said Dodds.
“All along at this club with the youngsters coming through you have seen them come and go.
“We can only start with Ryan Christie playing for Scotland the other night. That is the aim for players at this club, that is where they can go.
“Roddy and Cammy are two of those players and there is so much good news coming out of the club just now.”
Harper played in the 4-0 victory over Buckie Thistle in the Trust Trophy second round, while MacGregor was rested as Inverness prepare for the top of the table clash against Partick Thistle at the Caledonian Stadium.
Dodds says he has no injury concerns going into the clash after making 10 changes in the victory over Buckie Thistle.
He would not confirm if he plans to revert to the team that won at Kilmarnock, but says he would be fair to players who are on form.
“If the players are fair and honest then they will understand,” he said.
“That’s not saying that I’m not going to make changes.“
He added: “I have had players in my office individually and talked to them as a team, and everybody knows that if you do well and win games there is every chance you will keep your place.”
