Ross County manager Jim McIntyre has dismissed speculation linking forward Brian Graham with a move to Championship club Hibernian, insisting he has a key role to play this season.
Graham scored six goals in four games despite the Staggies’ poor League Cup group campaign as the defence of the trophy they won last season ended at the first hurdle.
The 28-year-old scored in the 3-2 loss against League 1 side Alloa Athletic which knocked the Dingwall side out of the competition, a game watched by Hibs manager Neil Lennon.
Graham is out of contract next summer but McIntyre is not interested in selling him, and said: “We’ve not heard a thing from Hibs – Brian is a Ross County player and he’s not going anywhere.
“Brian is in great form at the minute and scoring goals freely.”
Graham is one of four attackers competing for a place in McIntyre’s team, and scored a hat-trick in Saturday’s 7-0 home win against Highland League champions Cove Rangers. Alex Schalk and Craig Curran added doubles in that game but the Staggies manager says he is not concerned by last season’s leading scorer Liam Boyce failing to hit the net so far this season.
He added: “Liam was playing a different role in the last couple of matches. He was slightly deeper, but he’s still getting into scoring positions, and he’s had a couple of shots.
“It’s great to see Alex get back-to-back games and scoring goals, but the most pleasing factor for everyone was Craig coming on and getting goals, and looking very bright.”
County will be strengthened by the early return of defender Marcus Fraser, who had surgery on a shoulder injury earlier this summer.
He could return to the squad for Saturday’s Premiership game against Dundee, but McIntyre will be easing him back.
McIntyre added: “Marcus saw the surgeon on Monday and he’s a month ahead of schedule. Our physio Kevin Bain and Marcus both deserve great credit for that. They’ve worked extremely hard over the summer.
“That was good news and Marcus can rejoin full training. That’s him available now, although he’s not ready to play a game.
“He’ll be in the squad, but he’s behind on game time and we’ll need to try to get him some games in the under-20s when that starts.”