Warren wants Meekings to stay on at ICT
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GARY Warren believes Josh Meekings would reap the rewards later in his career if he were to sign on for another two years at Caley Thistle.
The highly-rated young central defender is one of several in the first-team squad at Inverness who will see their present contracts run out at the end of the forthcoming season.
Manager John Hughes is planning talks with all players in a similar position once they return for the start of pre-season training at the end of next month.
Meekings form over the last two season’s should ensure he is high priority on that list to get re-signed and his fellow centre half Warren, who recently signed a new contract that will keep him at the Caley Jags until May 2017, is hoping that a deal can be struck to secure the 21-year-old’s future beyond the finish of the next campaign.
"I would love for him to stay here," said Warren. "I think he would benefit from possibly another couple of years at Caley Thistle.
"That would take him to the age of 23, so he’s still not coming into his prime yet. He’s probably three or four years off that as a centre half.
"Josh has still got a very long and bright future ahead of him.
"It’s been a real privilege for me to have played alongside him over the last couple of years. We have a good understanding and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it."
Meekings, a former captain of Ipswich Town under-18s, arrived at Caley Thistle in the summer of 2011, going on to make 21 appearances in his first season, mainly at right back.
The arrival of Warren, however, saw Meekings switched to his more natural position in central defence and he has flourished ever since.
In the 2012/13 campaign, Meekings played 41 times, before finishing last season with 42 appearances, showing himself to be one of Caley Thistle’s most reliable performers over the last two years.
Playing alongside him regularly, Warren (29) insists Meekings has everything in his locker to go on and be a star of the future.
"Josh was probably unfortunate not to find himself in the Scottish Premiership team of the year at the end of last season," he said.
"I work with him in training every day and have played alongside him for the past two season’s so I’m well aware of his talents.
"If I’m honest, he gets me out of trouble a few times as I’m not someone blessed with pace!
"Seriously though, Josh has got all the attributes for the modern game to be a really successful player.
"He’s young and he’s also had the experience over the last two years of playing in a settled position.
"Before he was playing as a full back, then in the centre of defence, then back out to full back, so he was filling in all across the back four.
"For a young lad, consistency is one of the main things you need to work on. If you can play 10 games and consistently play well then you have got a bright future. Josh is doing that just now and he’s only 21 years of age.
"He’s quick, athletic, strong and a good passer of the ball, so he’s got everything you need to be a good player."
