Morrison urged to press for a place by Ross County boss McIntyre
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THE departure of striker Brian Graham to Hibs is a golden opportunity for young gun Greg Morrison, according to Ross County manager Jim McIntyre.
Experienced frontman Graham, who was seeking a move south and more regular first-team football, was snapped up by Neil Lennon’s Championship Hibees on Saturday, the day after he was released by the Dingwall club.
However, McIntyre hopes that 18-year-old Morrison, who came off the bench in Saturday’s 2-0 victory against Kilmarnock, can push the experienced group of Liam Boyce, Alex Schalk and Craig Curran this year.
He explained: "It’s a great opportunity for Greg. Steven Ferguson (head of youth) spotted him as a 14-year-old and brought him in. Fergie deserves great credit for that. And (development coach) Stuart Kettlewell, especially in the last year or so, has worked incredibly hard with him.
"He’s raw, but he has brute strength – he is a very powerful boy. I can only see him getting better and better.
"The chance is going to be there for him. He will be dipped in and out when we feel it is the right time, but he is training with the first team every day now, so he will learn and improve.
"It is a fantastic job done by our academy through the levels, from 14 up to the job Stuart Kettlewell has been doing with him in the last 18 months."
One player who has shown promise in recent years at County is local lad Tony Dingwall.
The 22-year-old attacker was also a sub against Killie and made 15 appearances in total last term.
McIntyre rates Dingwall, but is calling for him to really kick on in what could become a race against time in terms of his future.
He stressed: "Tony has had several opportunities and really needs to make his mark. He’s in the last year of his contract and, for me, he needs to do more.
"He knows that, but he’s shown a fantastic attitude in training and is really trying to take on board what that position entails.
"It is about being dynamic, about defending when we’ve not got the ball, but most importantly it is your responsibility to create when we have it. A lot of people think being brave is putting your foot in. For me, being brave is getting yourself on the ball and wanting the ball in tight situations – then trying to make something happen.
"Tony doesn’t have to look any further than Michael Gardyne who has arguably been our most-consistent wide player since we came here.
"It’s the same for Jonathan Franks. Franksy did well on Saturday and grew and grew into the game, but they need to produce on a more regular level if they want to stay in the team."
*** County are understood to be trying to land 20-year-old Newcastle winger Alex Gilliead on loan as well as Celtic’s Gary Mackay-Steven ahead of the closure of the transfer window next Wednesday night.
