David Carson backs Nathan Shaw to be a key player for Inverness Caley Thistle after double against Ayr
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David Carson believes Saturday’s outstanding performer Nathan Shaw can set the Championship alight this season.
The summer signing from humble AFC Fylde has been a slow-burner in Caley Thistle colours but exploded to prominence with a brilliant double in the 2–2 draw with leaders Ayr United.
Experienced midfielder Carson quickly spotted the 21-year-old winger’s ability and potential after arriving from non-league English football, but acknowledges he has taken time to grow in confidence.
Shaw’s late equaliser in the draw with Ayr was crucial in keeping Caley Jags six points behind the top side on a day they could have slipped nine behind or dragged in back to three.
After the game, manager Billy Dodds praised Shaw’s “incredible” touch for the second goal and said the youngster now had the belief he could become a main man at ICT – something Carson had no hesitation in agreeing with.
“Nathan is a real talent, he has such a lot of quality,” the 27-year-old Geordie said
“He is a quiet boy, who comes from Blackburn, a couple of hours from where I’m from, and I’ve tried to help him settle in, but he’s a confidence player and hopefully that’s given him a right boost.
“I thought he was magnificent today and his second goal, in particular, he took really well.
“He knows what he can do in this league and we know what he is capable of too – we see it every day in training.
“I’ve no doubts he can kick on from here and show everyone what a talent he is – and become even better.”
Carson insisted he understood criticisms aimed at his team for the run of six games without victory, albeit amid an injury crisis Dodds described as the worst he has seen in 37 years in football.
The Ayr performance, though, was held up as proof of the current team’s quality, endurance and determination, the midfielder said.
“A few boys out there on Saturday proved they should be in the team whether there are injuries or not,” he stressed.
“We need to put ourselves in the position where, when these bodies come back, the gaffer has got a headache as to who to pick.
“In-house, we always have the positive mindset that we can go out and beat anyone in this league. Obviously we haven’t been picking up the results we wanted to, but I think a 2–2 draw was the least we deserved from the Ayr game.
“We know when results aren’t going for us there is going to be criticism. The fans want to win games as much as the players, but there is nobody who hurts more than us players when we don’t pick up a positive result.
“We have to go into every game with the positive mentality, with or without bodies through injury. Everyone has to believe in themselves and we deserved three points against Ayr.
“It really frustrated everyone in our dressing room, but you could see the boys emptied the tank on Saturday and just couldn’t quite get over the line.”
