Ross County winger Josh Mullin feels he is returning to the fold at an exciting time as the Staggies prepare for a cup double-header next week.
County face rivals Caley Thistle in a Scottish Cup last-16 Highland derby at Victoria Park on Monday, before facing League 1 side East Fife in the semi-finals of the IRN-BRU Cup
on Friday.
Mullin returned from suspension to sit on the bench for County’s 2-1 win over Dunfermline on Saturday, having missed two games following his dismissal in the 4-0 defeat to Queen of the South last month.
The former Livingston player is eager to be involved in a defining week for Stuart Kettlewell and Steven Ferguson’s side.
He said: “Everybody wants to be involved in cups. Other teams will maybe be happy they’ve just got one focus, but we’ve got three at the moment. We’re in the last 16 of the Scottish Cup – it’s a derby everybody wants to play in. If we win that, we’ve got the chance of a big tie. Even in the IRN-BRU Cup, everybody wants to win a cup.
“Everybody will be looking forward to these two challenges and then when we get back to league business we will be ready for that.”
Mullin knows he faces tough competition to regain his place, with Michael Gardyne coming off the bench to net the winner at East End Park, while former Raith Rovers winger Daniel Armstrong has also been added to the squad.
The 26-year-old added: “It was frustrating being out through suspension – it’s not as if I was dropped.
“You are training all week and trying to keep morale high for the boys. It’s nothing to do with me, it’s just about trying to keep everyone else going. To be back involved on Saturday was excellent, as I have missed the past few weeks.
“There is still plenty of the season left and I’m sure I’ll have another chance. As long as we keep winning I don’t think anybody will be complaining about who is on the bench and not. We just have to keep putting wins on the board.”