Manager says Ross County young set are refusing to act their age
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MALKY Mackay admits he was surprised to discover Ross County have the Premiership’s youngest squad – but is glad they are not acting their age.
The statistic surfaced this week on social media with County narrowly pipping Celtic’s vibrant young side as the league’s least-seasoned.
At 25.8 years old, County have knocked almost a year off last season’s average under Stuart Kettlewell and John Hughes. Aberdeen and Rangers are the oldest at 28.5 and 28.4, while the league’s bottom two Dundee and St Johnstone rank as the third and fourth oldest.
It was Alan Hansen who once claimed you couldn’t win anything with kids. Mackay knows the risks inexperience carries, but is confident the Dingwall squad holds enough experience in the likes of Keith Watson, 32, Jordan White, 30, and Ross Laidlaw, 29.
“The statistic wasn’t one I was aware of until somebody sent me it the other day,” Mackay admitted.
“It is interesting, because they’re not acting as if they’re a youthful team. I’ve seen it where clubs can go with youngsters and it invariably ends up in relegation.
“It can be dangerous – you need a smattering of more experienced people through your team and I think we’ve got that. We’ve brought the average age down, but it’s not a group of kids. That doesn’t work in this league.
“What we’ve got now is a really athletic, energetic team, a change I felt we needed.”
County can go five games unbeaten by picking up a positive result at Easter Road tomorrow and their positivity stands in contrast to pressures weighing on Hibs and new manager Shaun Maloney.
Since the ex-Celtic striker kicked off his management career with festive wins against Aberdeen and Dundee United, he has gone six league games without win. Mackay, though, is focused only on his own team’s state of readiness.
“It will be a difficult game at a ground where we lost in August,” he said. “They have a new manager and both teams have new players.
“Hibs are a big club with a good support, so we’re prepared and really looking forward to it.
“After a short break, the players look really hungry. There’s a real focus on going down to Hibs and doing well.
“At the moment the focus is really just on ourselves. If we keep picking up points we will be okay.”
