Dylan Maclean credits former top flight goalkeepers Michael Rae and Michael Fraser with progress after signing new contract to stay at Nairn County
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Dylan Maclean has paid tribute to the influence of two former Scottish top-flight goalkeepers after reaffirming his commitment to Nairn County.
The Wee County shotstopper credits assistant manager Michael Rae and former Caley Thistle and Motherwell keeper Michael Fraser for making a huge impact on his career development.
Maclean marked his 26th birthday by joining club stalwart Glenn Main and young winger Sam Gordon in signing a new deal through to summer 2023.
The groundworker from Inverness said: “My fiancée and I were just sitting watching some TV in the evening and I got a text from Graeme Macleod, our director of football, asking if I’d be willing to sign another contract.
“I messaged him straight back saying I’d absolutely be happy to. I didn’t even think about it.
“I really enjoy it at Nairn and feel like I’ve been there for so long now. At the end of the new contract it will be season number eight just finished.”
Fraser made 78 appearances for Inverness and won a Championship title, but he also played an early developmental role in Maclean’s career.
“I went through the coaching school, Just4Keepers, with him for a couple of years and, just before I signed for Nairn, I trained with him for a few sessions at Elgin,” Maclean said.
“He’s been a big influence and helped me a lot, given his experience. He’s a very good coach.
“I’m lucky because I’ve also had seven years with our own coach Michael Rae, who was obviously at Rangers.
“The two of them have vast experience from playing for Premiership clubs and, day-to-day at Nairn, Mike has been fantastic for me.
“He is always giving input on what we can do better.”
It has been a tough season for Nairn so far, with an injury-stricken start leading into recent Covid disruptions.
Maclean has had his own fitness issues to deal with at times, but he has straightforward targets for the remainder of the Highland League campaign with the Wee County.
He added: “With what happened last year, with us only playing five games, I was excited to get back for pre-season.
“Coming up to our first game after being out for so long, in the last training session, I took a hand injury – and that was me out until the away defeat to Brora at the end of August after Will Counsell was sent off.
“It was really frustrating, given how much I was looking forward to getting back to football.
“It was a poor start to the season for us, with only two wins at home, but we’ve been starting to look better with victories over the likes of Deveronvale and Rothes.
“I’m just trying to get as much game-time as I can and help the team finish with as many points as possible. Then we can look to a better campaign next season.”
Nairn hope to be back in action this weekend at home to Brora Rangers.
