Midfielder Michael Gardyne and attacker Inih Effiong are back in contention for Ross County’s vital Premiership match against Partick Thistle tomorrow.
The pair were cast under the spotlight last week when it was reported that they were involved in a dressing room incident which allegedly saw winger Gardyne filmed naked, with both left out of the squad for last weekend’s 2-0 loss to St Johnstone.
Coyle says the players will be considered for selection this time around, and he said: “They have trained all week. Both players obviously missed out on the 18 last week, but they’ve trained and are fit and available.”
The Staggies have the opportunity to move off the Premiership’s bottom spot with a victory against the Jags this weekend, with Thistle also eager to return to winning ways having taken the lead in their last two games against Hamilton Accies and Dundee before going on to lose 2-1 in both.
Coyle is not being fooled by the defeats, insisting his side must show battling qualities against Alan Archibald’s men.
He added: “We have analysed their games. There was no day off this week and we had the players in on Wednesday. We looked at footage of their games against Dundee and Hamilton.
“Partick did very well for periods of the matches, but ended up losing a couple of games. We know that feeling because we have done that ourselves.
“What it showed was the margins in the league are so fine – you can easily be 12th or sixth or seventh. There’s a very fine line between a lot of teams.
“That being said, it’s important to come out on the right side of those margins. We’re not being kidded that Partick lost the games against Dundee and Hamilton because they actually did enough in those games to get points from them.
“We have to make sure we look after ourselves. If we get to our maximum then that will take care of it. That’s what we focus on.
“I’m very respectful of the quality Partick have. We have to make sure we pay attention to that and then try to impose ourselves on the game at the right time.
“If that means we have to fight, scratch and win that battle first and foremost, then so be it. That’s what we have to do.
“The quality, the passing and movement doesn’t come before you win the battle. We’ve got to do the first bit and then the second part kicks in thereafter.”