Caley Thistle defender Jamie McCart is keen to remain distant from speculation over his future.
McCart is into the final six months of his Inverness contract, with Premiership side St Johnstone and Championship rivals Partick Thistle both pursuing the former Celtic defender.
The 22-year-old insists he has left his agent in charge of dealing with all contract matters, in an effort to stay focused on performing for John Robertson’s Caley Jags.
McCart said: “It is no issue at all. I just leave that to my agent and leave it to the club.
“I try not to get involved in it because then it just becomes a distraction more than anything. I think it is best left to the people who are best dealing with it.”
McCart has been a regular part of a backline which will be forced to reshuffle after the departure of his central defensive partner Coll Donaldson to rivals Ross County earlier this week.
McCart feels Donaldson is deserving of the opportunity to prove himself at top-flight level, but is confident the Highlanders can readjust.
McCart added: “First and foremost, he’s a friend and it is obviously good for him. He gets a step up in divisions and not much else in his life has to change, given the relocation is such a short distance.
“On a professional level, it is obviously disappointing for the team, but personally it is great for him.
“I think he is definitely primed and ready for it. I’d rate Coll very highly.
“He has all the attributes of a top centre-back, especially in Scotland’s Premiership.
“Hopefully he goes there and does well – and shows everyone how good he actually is.
“We’ve lost Coll, but we have good strength in numbers this year and a lot of good quality all over the pitch, especially in defence.
“Whoever plays in Coll’s absence I’m sure will do a great job.”
McCart will be involved when Caley Thistle make the Scottish Cup trip to his former club Alloa Athletic in an all-Championship tie at Recreation Park today.
McCart was part of an Inverness side which reached the semi-finals of the competition last year, only to lose 3-0 to Hearts in a match which saw the defender have an equalising goal wrongly disallowed for offside.
McCart is not lacking in inspiration to produce another cup run, and he added: “As the manager has said to us, look at last year and the memories we made from it, the run we went on.
“We got ourselves to Hampden Park – and it was massive for the boys, especially being quite a young group. Most of us hadn’t been to Hampden before.
“Hopefully, we can do the same again.
“The manager says we have to look at it that we can go all the way. You never know what ties we will get if we can get past Alloa.
“We obviously have an all-Championship tie, which isn’t the worst for us.
“As the manager says, it is definitely possible, if you believe in it.”
