Manager says teenager earned place in Ross County first team in impressive performance against Aberdeen
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TEENAGER Dylan Smith has earned his place in the starting line-up at Ross County according to manager Malky Mackay as he praised his performance in the 1–0 defeat to Aberdeen.
The 16-year-old defender put in a good display against the high flying Dons at the Global Energy Stadium on Friday night.
Mackay says the former Culloden Academy pupil has earned his place in the starting line-up and is showing he belongs at Premiership level.
He says that he is showing wisdom beyond his years on the pitch and is likely to stay in the starting line-up.
“For his age, he shows so much calmness and reading of the game,” said Mackay.
“He’s clearly a centre back who can head the ball, tackle and he knows what he’s doing.
“To play against two really good centre forwards in Miovski and Duk – they are as good as anything in Scotland right now.
“He has a couple of wise old owls each side of him, but to play like that I was really proud of him.
“It’s about him showing consistency. He showed it against Celtic, he showed it last week and he showed it again.
“He’s on there on merit – and he stays there on merit.”
Smith is being touted as one of the country’s brightest young talents, having played for Scotland at under-17 level.
Mackay says with more Premiership experience, he will only get better.
“It’s why I didn’t put him out to the Highland League.
“I thought if we just kept him around the first team in the first half of the season, get him used to the intensity they train at, get him in the gym, get him built up, doing the running, eating the right way. I knew eventually we were going to end up putting him in and I’m really proud of him. We’re at the end of the season in a period where obviously it is very important for us, but I’m not just throwing him in on a whim.
“It’s not for some kind of PR stunt.
“He’s in there because he deserves to be.”
