Ross County winger Daniel Armstrong knows victory over Dundee United tonight will go a long way towards completing a six-month leap from League 1 to the Premiership.
Armstrong made the move to Victoria Park from third-tier Raith Rovers in January, and is looking to help the Staggies move eight points clear of United, with a game in hand, by winning against Robbie Neilson’s men at Dingwall this evening.
The 21-year-old knows the stakes are high this evening, and he added: “It’s massive – if we win this the pressure is all on them.
“With a victory, I think we can make it possible to win the league a few games after it so it is massive that we take care of this game.
“It would be nice just to beat them as well after the defeat the other week.
“The boys are confident. They’ve been brilliant in training and wee brilliant the other night. We’re all ready for it.
“We’ll prepare and plan for it the same as any other game. We obviously have the incentive of putting them that bit further behind, but the boys just look at it as three points.”
Armstrong made a strong impression in his 11 appearances for Raith earlier this season, after joining the Kirkcaldy club in November following his release by English Premier League club Wolves.
Despite catching the eye of Staggies co-managers Stuart Kettlewell and Steven Ferguson, Armstrong has had to be patient since his move to the Highlands, but was drafted in for his first league start in Tuesday’s 2-1 derby victory over Inverness.
Armstrong hopes he can impress during the run-in, adding: “When I heard about the opportunity in January while at Raith, I felt I had to take the chance.
“Obviously I didn’t come in and play straight away, which is always difficult for a player, but it is important to keep working hard and wait for your chance.
“It’s been brilliant so far and we just want to keep pushing on – and win the league.
“I was the main winger at Raith and then you step up a level and the players are just as good. You need to wait for your chance.
“But Josh Mullin and Michael Gardyne have been brilliant and I’ve learned from them as well.
“I’ve always know I needed to be ready to be called upon. It does push you on in training. Competition is healthy and you need it.
“Otherwise, you can slack off. Everybody here knows there are good players behind them, good players in front of them. You just have to train well, play well and wait for your chance.”
Armstrong was pleased to be involved in a crucial victory over Inverness, and he added: “I’d been cup-tied for the two previous derbies, so it was great to play from the start and it was a great win.
“We couldn’t have bounced back from Saturday in a better way, with a Highland derby win.
“We knew we had the two games in hand and knew, if we took care of Caley Thistle and take care of Dundee United, it’s in our hands.”