Ross Draper scooped the SPFL player of the month award for August in a clean sweep for Caley Thistle – and the midfielder insists he is enjoying his football more than ever before.
Inverness have enjoyed an excellent start to the season, lead the Premiership and have yet to concede a goal.
That form has been recognised, with Draper’s award followed by John Hughes winning manager of the month and teenaged midfielder Ryan Christie scooping young player of the month.
Former Macclesfield Town midfielder Draper believes the spirit within the squad makes the Caledonian Stadium a great place to be.
He said: “This is the happiest I have been in my football career, without a doubt.
“There is a great environment here and I love coming to training every day, all the squad are together, there’s a great attitude and the players see each other outside of training.
“Everyone lives five minutes from each other, and we go and do things in the afternoons, it’s a good atmosphere and we enjoy each other’s company.”
Draper was given a new two-year contract in March, but admitted he feared for his future when manager Hughes replaced former manager Terry Butcher.
Draper added: “I think there are better footballers than myself, and given the manager was changing the way he wanted us to play, I did think he’d maybe go down the route of getting in smaller, quicker players who can pass the ball and move a little bit better than me.
“It was reassuring that he came in and wanted to work with me, but he did a lot of that to keep the squad. He’s been quite clever about it and realised it’s a good changing room that doesn’t really need to change, and he’s done that with a lot of the players who he has offered new deals to.
“Greg Tansey came back halfway through last season and has done really well. He’s been brilliant, we’ve got a good balance where he likes to get forward, get involved and score goals. As you can see from his goals this season, he can strike a great ball.
“I give him the freedom to go and play and express himself, and he knows behind him there’s always going to be cover.
“At the moment it’s working, there’s a good balance in the team.”