Caley Thistle winger Zack Elbouzedi hopes the club’s fixture pile-up can help him stake a claim for a regular place.
The 19-year-old Irishman has made only one substitute appearance since signing last summer, having missed a huge chunk of the season because of a knee injury.
He needed to undergo an operation shortly after signing, but is now fit. With Inverness facing 11 league matches and an IRN-BRU Cup final against Dumbarton over the next six weeks, Elbouzedi is desperate to play as much as he can.
“The run of fixtures actually suits me fine,” he said. “I want to play as much as I can after being injured.
“We have the players to cope with this and having missed so many games lately, no one really minds them coming thick and fast now.
“Everyone just wants to play football and when you go a couple of weeks without playing, you realise how much you miss it.”
Reaching the promotion play-offs remains the goal but Tuesday’s setback against Dunfermline has left Inverness just six points above second-bottom Dumbarton in the relegation play-off spot.
Elbouzedi, a former West Brom trainee and under-19 international for Ireland, said the Sons’ improving form means it is imperative that Inverness return to winning ways themselves as quickly as possible.
He said: “It was a big blow in midweek and to have a good chance of making the play-off we probably need to pick up maximum points from every game. Obviously Dumbarton are closing in so we have to look over our shoulders as well.
“There is still a lot to play for. The play-offs will be tough to make but we have got to keep going and keep picking up points because the last thing we want is to end up in a relegation scrap. It’s going to be tough but anything can happen in football. We just need to start winning games and build some momentum.”
Dundee United are today’s opponents at Tannadice, a happy hunting ground for Inverness after they won 2-0 there back in October.
The Arabs’ title challenge has stalled and manager Csaba Laszlo is under pressure to ensure his side at least clinch a top-four finish in the Championship.
Elbouzedi said: “It is a big game for them and for us. We have to beat them.
“They are a good side and, a little bit like ourselves, haven’t really shown how good they can be this season.”