Caley Thistle’s players are flying back into tackles in training – just a week after small-sides bounce games were binned due to the injury crisis at the Championship club.
Head coach Billy Dodds, with close to 10 players sidelined in recent weeks, had asked his squad to limit the risk of further injuries stacking up by changing training set-ups.
However, ahead of Saturday’s home showdown against basement side Arbroath, there has been plenty of spark about it.
🔜 We're back in home action this weekend as we face Arbroath on Saturday
🎟️ Tickets available now, get them before 12pm on Saturday to save money
👉https://t.co/UlAYIvicUU pic.twitter.com/azaDsfzY7w
— Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC (@ICTFC) October 31, 2022
He said: “Thursday morning was so sharp and intense. That’s what I want from all of my training sessions, but it is in your mind to say ‘calm down’.
“I have to warn them before every session where we take on games, ‘just watch the tackles lads’ to make sure we don’t pick up any more injuries.
“There was a day last week I felt we couldn’t gamble by doing training.
“On Thursday, they were brilliant – I’m pleased with them every day, but especially today. Given the numbers we have, the intensity was there. It is onwards and upwards.”
Players embracing tough challenges
Dodds said the group are not floored by having so many team-mates out of action.
He said: “It is the old in the face of adversity line, isn’t it?
“I think all the boys are embracing it, relishing it. That’s maybe why it was so intense today.
“They were like ‘let’s go – let’s get on with it’. We’re not downbeat whatsoever and we’re still fiercely competitive.
“We could do with getting bodies back, but while they’re not there what I have left is, for me, still plenty.”
One or two back would ‘ease burden’
It’s a waiting game for Dodds and his coaches as the need for experienced players to recover to a match-fitness level is apparent.
He added: “There’s a few where we don’t quite know the time length. Roddy MacGregor and Dan MacKay are two we could be doing with getting a little bit more information on, Danny Devine as well.
“Getting even one or two back would ease the burden, but the players I have available are up for it.”
Samuels ‘won’t be rushed’ – Dodds
Striker Austin Samuels returned to the bench for last Friday’s 4-0 loss at Morton following his knee injury.
Dodds is cautious about pitching the goal-grabber into full action just yet.
He said: “He has a wee niggle and we’re not wanting to rush him. We don’t want to push him too quickly and lose him long-term.
“It is like that with a few of them. We want them back in the team, creating a healthy squad, but we have to be patient.”
Positive within defeat at Cappielow
ICT are seeking their first victory since beating Cove on October 15, so they can stay within three points at most behind leaders Ayr United.
Dodds still saw positives within last week’s sore display at Cappielow.
He added: “We could do with a win. We went on a good run and there are reasons why we lost points in the last three games, but you can’t say we’ve not approached the games properly.
“Even against Morton, I thought we passed the ball well, we were just poor at both ends – I stand by that.”
Conversation