Ross County co-manager Steven Ferguson has no doubt forward Billy Mckay can carry his goalscoring form into next season’s Premiership campaign.
Mckay yesterday became the latest player to commit his future to the newly-promoted Staggies, signing a new two-year deal with the Dingwall club.
The deal follows a successful Championship title-winning campaign for Mckay, who finished as County’s leading scorer with 20 goals in 34 appearances prior to a broken arm he suffered when netting the winner in a 3-2 victory over Ayr United in February.
The Northern Ireland international’s exploits saw him named County players’ player of the year and he was also nominated for the PFA Scotland player of the year award.
Ferguson is thrilled to tie the 30-year-old down on fresh terms, and he said: “We’re delighted to secure Billy’s services again. He scored 20 goals last year in the Championship and he’s a proven goalscorer whatever league he plays in.
“To know we have that ammunition in our frontline is really pleasing for Stuart Kettlewell and I.
“I’m absolutely confident he can carry it on in the Premiership.
“If you look at his goals to games played ratio, it just sums up what Billy’s about. We feel we’ve got a striker who is feeling good about himself and in good form.
“Hopefully, he’ll take that from the Championship to the Premiership.”
Mckay had previously enjoyed a successful three-and-a-half year spell with Highland rivals Caley Thistle, but began last season on the back of a sticky spell which saw him relegated four times on the trot – with Wigan Athletic, Dundee United and a second loan spell at Inverness prior to suffering the drop with County last year.
Ferguson praised Mckay for resurrecting his form last term, adding: “He might have had difficult spells before coming to us, but everyone knows if Billy is playing regularly and getting chances, he’ll score them.
“Strikers go through periods in their careers when things don’t go according to plan. It’s really how they deal with that and keep banging that drum.
“If you keep banging the door, it will eventually open and that’s what Billy did last year – and he was rewarded for continually working hard.”
Mckay joins teenage English defender Tom Grivosti in agreeing extended terms with the Staggies, who are in talks with defender Sean Kelly over a new deal.