David Carson gives Inverness Caley Thistle rallying call
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DAVID Carson believes it is up to Caley Thistle’s fit and walking wounded to show the mental toughness to battle through the club’s injury crisis.
After the team’s heaviest defeat of the season away to Morton on Friday, manager Billy Dodds raised the question of whether the dire list of casualties was playing on minds within his dressing room.
Carson, while not playing down the severity of the situation, emphasised that the onus was on the players, individually and collectively, to play a positive part in keeping Caley Jags’ title bid on track.
Now one of the more experienced players in the camp, the 27-year-old deals it is all to play for in a league where just five points separate the top seven teams
“I just try to get on with it and keep the boys as upbeat as possible,” Carson said.
“It is not nice seeing how the numbers have dropped in training, with boys coming in on a morning and heading for gym and rehab sessions.
“Ultimately, you want everyone available for selection, but you just have to concentrate, first and foremost, on doing your job and doing what you can to keep the group together and positive.
“It is time for everyone, including myself, to step up and get us back to winning ways and into a better position in the league for when those boys do become available for selection again.”
After five straight wins, Caley Thistle have taken just one point from their last three games, but remain just three points off title pace ahead of Saturday’s visit of Arbroath.
Carson says there needs to be constant focus on the bigger prize while awaiting the return of reinforcements.
“The boys just have to step up in situations like this, and it gives other boys a chance.
“Boys coming in are getting their opportunity and it is time for them to really show what they’re about.
“They need to show they should be in the team whether we have injuries or not. We’re professionals and whether we have a massive squad to pick from or not, everyone needs to make sure they dig deep to get a result for the club – and for the players coming back from injury.
“It’s a team game and we’re all in it together.”
