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Kettlewell lays down challenge to young Staggies midfield pair

Lewis Spence (left) and Harry Paton.
Lewis Spence (left) and Harry Paton.

Ross County co-manager Stuart Kettlewell has challenged young pair Lewis Spence and Harry Paton to maintain their consistency in the heart of the Staggies’ midfield.

The Staggies have been left with a number of midfield absentees in recent weeks, with Ross Draper, Iain Vigurs, Don Cowie and Tom Grivosti sidelined through injury.

That has prompted the call for 23-year-old Spence and Paton, who is two years younger, to step into the breach, with Kettlewell crediting the pair with playing an instrumental role in County’s 2-1 victory over Hibernian in their most recent outing last Wednesday.

Kettlewell hopes for more of the same when County host Kilmarnock tomorrow, and he said: “I don’t particularly like to single out individuals, but I think it’s important to mention the job the two young ones have done in the middle of the pitch.

“Lewis Spence, who has relative experience for his age, and Harry Paton have given us vibrancy in that area of the park.

“They’ve pressed the game well and we’re starting to see a wee bit more of their quality in possession, especially in the second half against Hibs.

“The gauntlet is laid down to them. They’ve impressed, even against Celtic in spells.

“The age-old question for young players is can they find that level of consistency?

“You can be a very good player, but it is one good game, three bad ones. We need to try to instil that consistency level in them to get top-level performances, week-after-week.”

Spence missed the opening three months of the season due to a dislocated shoulder, but has been a regular starter since making his comeback in October.

Former Staggies midfielder Kettlewell feels Spence, who joined from Dundee in January, possesses key attributes for the Staggies’ top-flight campaign.

“Lewis is sometimes that unsung hero in the job he does outwith having the ball and having an understanding of that. That comes from me who made a living out of that.

“You need that in the Premiership where it would be naive to think we’ll continually dominate the ball.

“We have to be good at getting it back as well and with the energy these two guys bring. That gave us a chance in the Hibs game and got us playing on the front foot.

“That’s what we’ll look for again. Kilmarnock will try to steal the ball and counter-attack. They’ve been very good at it for the last 18 months.

“We have a little of that ourselves and these guys can be a big part of that.”