Former Caley Thistle midfielder Ross hoping coronavirus lockdown will not derail his Major League Soccer dream

Nick Ross first endured lockdown in El Paso in terrifying circumstances as a white supremacist opened fire on Walmart shoppers.

The second, amid the coronavirus crisis, threatens to be lengthier but far more serene.

Back in August last year, the Texan town where the ex-Caley Thistle midfielder lives and plays suffered the loss of 22 lives as a young terrorist unleashed the deadliest attack on Latinos in modern American history.

Ross was enjoying a pre-match coffee with Irish team-mate Richie Ryan, previously at Dundee United, before a panicky call told him to get home and lie low.

By then, his new US career was already thriving in the scorching desert sun beside the Mexican border. He completed a brilliant first season with glowing praise from El Paso Locomotive FC’s English head coach Mark Lowry.

“For me, Nick is one of the league’s most underrated players,” Lowry said.

“He is incredibly intelligent. He has the running ability to cover more ground than anyone else during a game and is technically proficient with both feet. I’m honoured to have him back next season.”

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