Caley Thistle defender Danny Devine is optimistic his side will return to the top six in the forthcoming weeks.
Inverness have suffered from inconsistency throughout the season, and are eighth in the Premiership, having suffered from a series of injury problems.
John Hughes’ side returns to action this weekend with a home match against Kilmarnock and after three consecutive top-six finishes, Devine is determined not to fall out of the upper half of the league this season.
With several players returning from injury, and manager Hughes having shown his commitment to the cause recently by signing a two-year contract extension, Devine is hopeful of an upturn in fortunes.
He said: “I don’t think anyone around here is panicking at all. Considering what has happened to the squad with injuries, we’ve done pretty well.
“A couple of wins can get us back into the top six and right in among the leading teams. The players are definitely looking towards the new year in a positive frame of mind.
“Christmas is busy with games of course and we’ll just be trying to get as many points as possible.”
One of the players to have returned from injury in recent weeks is captain Gary Warren, who started for the first time in four months in Caley Jags’ 3-1 defeat against Celtic last month.
Northern Irishman Devine knows the importance of the return of the influential defender, but reckons he and Josh Meekings have formed a fine partnership during Warren’s absence.
Devine added: “With Gary out of the team – he’s a real leader – Josh and I had to take up the mantle and try to lead from the back. Gary is a great talker and we had to try to do as well as we could to fill that role.
“Gary is back now and there is real competition for places as players are starting to come out of the treatment room.
“In the run-up to Christmas it should be interesting, and hopefully we can start performing.”