Ross County manager Owen Coyle could unleash winger Chris Eagles on Dundee in today’s Victoria Park encounter.
Englishman Eagles joined the Staggies in time to be named among the substitutes for last weekend’s 0-0 draw against Hearts at Tynecastle, however injuries to skipper Andrew Davies and midfielder Jim O’Brien put paid to Coyle’s hopes of introducing him to the action.
Coyle is eager to show the Dingwall what the 32-year-old, who previously played under the County manager at Burnley and Bolton Wanderers, can do, and he said: “The plan last week was to get Eagles on to the field.
“The skipper got injured and then Jim O’Brien did in the second-half and obviously those plans went out of the window, because we had already used two of our allotted three subs which we hadn’t planned in that scenario.
“I always have in mind what I want to do in games and that was kind of taken away from us.
“He has trained very well this week as they all have done. Whether the time is right for him to start, that’s something we need to sit and think about because he does need match sharpness.
“That being said, the only way he will get it is by playing games.
“The plan last week was to introduce him to the league and the players and everything else, but it never happened. Whether he comes off the bench this wee it’s certainly a nice option to have, that’s for sure.”
Coyle is demanding his team gets on the front foot against Neil McCann’s Dark Blues side today, as the ninth-placed Staggies aim to make further ground on a top-six place.
Coyle added: “We certainly understand and respect and threats Dundee have, and the quality of players they have, but we have to make sure we get back to our best.
“We showed different sides of our qualities last week at Hearts without being free-flowing, in terms of passing or moving.
“We want to try and get back to our level in terms of what we do with the ball.
“We know how hard we work without it, but we’re looking to add that quality on the ball.
“If we do that we are more than capable of winning the game and we know that.”