Inverness Caley Thistle captain relishes midfield fight
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SEAN Welsh admits he faces a classic captain’s dichotomy – as he tries to nurture Caley Thistle’s kids while also kicking them out of the team.
As an experienced campaigner within a youthful squad, Welsh takes pride in passing on nuggets of advice and knowledge to the club’s younger talents.
Equally, though, as a fiercely-competitive professional, the former Hibs and Partick Thistle playmaker is eager to supplant the likes of Scott Allardice and Roddy Macgregor and make the midfield berth his own.
Welsh, preparing for a crucial test away to Ayr United this weekend, mused on the contradiction this week but acknowledged it was a healthy scenario.
He said: “At the start of the season we were down to the bare bones and didn’t really have much of a team.
“Now the squad is looking very big and strong, something we will need given all the games we have to play and something the manager will be happy with as it is one in and one out, and like for like in quality.
“With David Carson back from injury, we’ve got really good competition in midfield and it’s like that all over the pitch.
“It keeps us all on our toes – one bad game and we will be out of the team.”
The 30-year-old rubs shoulders with another seasoned pro in James Vincent, while David Carson, at 25, also holds a decent bank of senior experience.
But the trio have seen 22-year-old Scott Allardice and 19-year-old Roddy Macgregor perform impressively this season in the twin deep midfield roles manager John Robertson favours.
Welsh said: “With injuries for me, David and James, it has been hard. Scott and Roddy took their chance.
“Now everyone is fit, we’ve just got to try to keep the jersey. The young boys have stepped up and done very well and us older boys just try to help them any way we can. They are more than capable, but we’re there to steer them in the right direction if they need any advice.”
As the club plays catch-up on fixtures, Welsh is optimistic on play-off prospects, but added: “The table is false for us with so many games in hand, but they’re going to come thick and fast.
“There’s a lot of pressure to get points and get back up the table.”
