Midfielder Danny Williams has waited patiently for his chance at Caley Thistle and is ready to stake a claim for a permanent first-team place.
Captain Richie Foran will be out for at least two months after suffering a serious shoulder injury when Inverness lost 4-3 in an epic game against Aberdeen at the Caledonian Stadium.
Williams made his first start for the Highland club since a summer move from non-league Kendal Town in the Dons defeat and hopes he did enough to stay in the starting line-up at Partick Thistle today.
He said: “The team has done well, week in week out, so I could not really argue. We have been winning games and doing fantastically well in the league, so it has naturally been difficult to get in.
“It is nice to see the team up there with the likes of Celtic, Aberdeen and Dundee United. But it is difficult because I want to play and hopefully I will start a few more over the Christmas period.
“It is a fresh start under a new manager.”
Williams knows Foran will be a big miss and added: “Richie has been inspirational for us. He is our leader in the dressing-room and on the pitch.
“He is going to be a big loss given how well he has done and with his goals as well.
“But it is an opportunity for a few of us with a chance to push for regular football.”
The 25-year-old wants to show the Caley Jags’ poor first-half display against Aberdeen was a one-off and said: “We just gave ourselves too much to do, but nobody would have expected us to take it back to 4-3. With Ross Draper’s chance which hit the post we might have snatched a draw at the end.
“At Partick we want to show we are better than that first half and we have had a chat about that.
“It is something we need to rectify, but I don’t think it is panic stations.
“The players all knew it was not good enough and we went out after the break and showed what we are all about. It was the real Inverness in the second half.
“We have defended really well mostly this season and goalkeeper Dean Brill has a great haul of clean sheets.
“Where we are in the league shows just how consistent we have been.”