Deeper role is no problem for Ross County player
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Dominic Samuel feels he is adapting to a deeper role with every match he plays at Ross County.
When moving to Dingwall last summer from Gillingham, the 28-year-old was known as an out-and-out striker.
A former England youth international, he had forged a solid career in England’s lower leagues before moving north of the border, despite having previously been linked with a move to Hearts.
However, since joining the Staggies, it has been rare to see Samuel leading the line, with Malky Mackay usually deploying him out wide or as a number 10 behind the main striker.
There has naturally been an adjustment period for the former England youth international to get used to a different role, but he believes he is growing in comfort all the time.
“I am getting to grips with it,” he stressed.
“Sometimes there are games where you would like to be on the ball more, but it gives you that free license to make those runs in behind and try and get on the ball to make things happen.
“That’s what I’m going to be trying to do for the team.
“There’s never really a set position in our team anyway, where you end up is where you end up.
“We like to play a man-for-man game, so wherever your man is you follow. It will pay off eventually, but hopefully it will come soon.”
County were one of the highest scorers in the Scottish Premiership last season, in part because of their free-flowing style.
That is certainly something Samuel enjoys, but the Staggies have not enjoyed the same success in the early stages of this season.
Three games in, they do not have a point to show for their efforts, but the forward is confident that the rewards will come for their hard work to date.
“If you’re looking to get on to the ball more than last year, you want to have that license that the gaffer gives you to go and be free,” Samuel explained.
“That’s what he’s been trying to make us do, and eventually it will gel. We’ve just got to give it time and work on it in training.”
There were positives to take from losing efforts against Hearts and Celtic, but last weekend’s trip to St Mirren was more frustrating.
“I’ve noticed up here that you just don’t know what teams are going to be around you,” Samuel added.
“You’ve got to look at each game in the same way – it doesn’t matter whether you’re playing the top two or the bottom two, it’s never going to be easy in this league.
“We’ve just got to worry about ourselves and take each game as it comes.”
