Performance counts for Inverness Caledonian Thistle loan signing from Dundee United Logan Chalmers
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HE was reared within the same system that brought Billy Gilmour to international acclaim.
Dundee United’s Logan Chalmers is determined to use his loan spell with Caley Thistle to help push him towards the same lofty stage.
The ambitious attacker attended Dundee’s St John’s RC High School, one of seven Scottish FA performance schools forming a flagship policy within the national body’s attempts to revitalise the national game.
Chelsea talent Gilmour and Everton’s Nathan Patterson lead a list of around 40 players to have emerged from the system, with Chalmers earning Scotland under-21 recognition.
“As a young boy, you would take any opportunity to be playing football. Being part of a performance school gave me the chance to train within school hours and play football every day,” Chalmers said.
“It would be a dream for any young lad, really. It really helped me realise my potential, make my way at Dundee United and, hopefully, I can win a full cap for Scotland in he future.
“I’m sure the performance set-up will continue to have huge benefits for the future of the Scottish game.
“It’s the perfect passage for young players with a wee bit of talent. You see Billy Gilmour blazing a trail for the system, but players all come into the game through different paths so there’s no pressure or burden of expectation on me.
“It is just an inspiration to me, really. It should be for any young lad in that system.”
After four months of injury recovery at Tannadice, Chalmers, still only 21, needed regular action denied him at United.
That personal goal, though, is complemented by a desire to help Caley Thistle achieve their ambitions.
“When I spoke to the gaffer here, he seemed to know quite a lot about me and what he felt I could bring to the team,” he said.
“That gave me a good feeling about the move.
“There were a couple of lads I knew here as well from the younger Scotland camp, guys like Robbie Deas, Cameron Harper and Roddy MacGregor, so that helped me settle in. I’m really enjoying it now that I’ve been up for four or five weeks.
“Confidence has dipped a little bit lately, but we are still right up there with a great chance. I’ve no doubt we are capable of hitting a run of form at a crucial time.”
