Midfielder Ian McShane is confident he can make his mark in the Scottish Premiership with Ross County.
The 22-year-old, pictured, made just his sixth start of the campaign in Sunday’s 4-1 defeat against champions Celtic at Victoria Park, after moving from Championship side Queen of the South in the summer.
McShane has struggled to hold down a central midfield berth due to competition from Jackson Irvine, Martin Woods, Rocco Quinn and Stewart Murdoch, but is determined to remain in manager Jim McIntyre’s plans.
McShane, whose match against the Hoops was cut short due to a head injury in the 58th minute, accepts it has taken him time to adjust since making the move from the Championship, but is determined to become a regular starter.
He said: “It’s been a frustrating few months, but the team has been playing well.
“I just had to keep working hard and wait for my chance in the team. When the team is winning most weeks, I can’t really have any complaints. The manager said I would get my chance and he was true to his word. I’ve noticed a big difference since the move. I need to be more consistent every week – players can get away with having an all right game every week in the Championship – but not in the Premiership.
“We’ve got five central midfielders here so I need to be on my toes every week, working hard to make sure I’m staying in the team.”
The move to the Highlands reunited McShane with County manager McIntyre, after the pair were together at Queen of the South. After 96 appearances for the Dumfries club, McShane is eager to repay McIntyre for giving him the chance to play top-flight football.
He said: “The manager was good for me at Queen of the South and wanted to bring me up here. He’s got faith in me so hopefully I can repay that.
“It was an easy decision to come, a no-brainer. It didn’t surprise me how well County did in the second half of last season. It took the manager and Billy Dodds a bit of time to get going and get their own players in, but they kicked on from there.
“The manager has not changed, he’s always been full-on. We’re more or less doing the same things we did at Queens.”