New signing says he would run through walls for Ross County
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Ross County forward Josh Stones says he is willing to run through walls for his new team.
The 19-year-old moved to Dingwall on loan until the end of the season from Wigan Athletic on Tuesday, just six months after joining the Latics from Guiseley.
He had caught the eye in non-league football to the point he was captain of England’s schoolboys at under-18 level, and was consequently given the opportunity to make the step up with the English Championship outfit, regularly featuring for their under-21s in the first half of the campaign.
His path to the Scottish Premiership alone suggests that he is no stranger to hard work, and Stones believes Staggies fans can expect more of the same for the rest of the season.
“I would always put myself in the top three runners, because I think I would run through a brick wall if I’m playing for you,” Stones said.
“I can run into the channels, or I can come short.
“I have been told by managers, and people at Wigan, that’s one of the main things they have looked at.
“A lot of strikers today just like it around their feet, but I prefer to run after it.
“A few people at Wigan have told me I’m a throwback.”
Stones admits he did not know much about Scottish football before putting pen-to-paper on a short-term deal, but that did not stop him jumping at the opportunity to sign for County.
“I got told on Thursday at 3.30pm, and by 7.30pm I was coming up,” he said.
“I got the weekend off, and then drove up on Monday.
“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t believe in myself.
“The manager has told me to expect a quick league and a good standard, that I’ve got to be fit to play in the league and that he expects me to do well.
“I will give it my all, because nobody can complain if you give maximum effort.”
Only signing for Wigan last summer, it has been a spell of constant adaptation for the teenager, but he believes his time with the Latics so far will only help him thrive north of the border.
“It all happened really quickly, but I suppose you would rather it happen like that rather than keep dragging out,” he recalled.
“I only joined Wigan six months ago, having been playing non-league with Guiseley in National North.
“It was a big change going from the youth team to the first team at Guiseley. Wigan was another step, the training is quick and intense.
“Academy football has its name of being tippy-tappy and soft, so I think it was a breath of fresh air for someone like myself to come in.
“Being around all the players before I went to Wigan helped me, as a player and to mature as a person.
“I have seen quality in training, leadership and been around good players every day. I want to bring that here.”
