Future bright for young ICT side

SUPPORTERS were given a glimpse of Terry Butcher’s future vision for Caley Thistle in their victory over Celtic.

Only four players — Ryan Esson, Grant Munro, Ross Tokely and Chris Innes, were aged 30 or over that started the game, while on the bench, Stuart Golabek and Russell Duncan exceeded that number.

Out of the 18-man squad named for that game, 12 were under 30 and eight were either 23 or below.

Earlier in the week, Butcher announced the decision to release Munro, Duncan, Golabek, Innes and Roy McBain come the end of the season — a move that further reduces the average age of the squad.

He believes the future is very much in rising young stars such as Nick Ross, Graeme Shinnie, Gavin Morrison, Lee Cox, Jonny Hayes and Shane Sutherland, who scored what proved to be the winning goal against Celtic.

Butcher is proud of the fledgling talent emerging at Caley Thistle as he looks to set up a team next season which will be renowned for playing attacking football.

“It’s amazing to think that the vast majority of the squad for the Celtic game were still in their early 20s or even younger than that,” he said.

“That’s not bad and to see the younger players coming through and doing well is very encouraging.

“We didn't know at the start of the season how good someone like Nick Ross was going to be, but he’s been excellent and it gives you a wonderful feeling when you see them play.

“I’m as disappointed as anyone at having the break this squad up, but you sometimes have to prune back hard in order to get the growth again.

“We want to produce a team capable of playing exciting football because I think if we can find a system that allows us to do that then it will suit the players we have.

“For me, that is the way forward. I have said that I will look to change the dynamics of the team because I feel it’s time to go down a different route.

“I want to get someone in the midfield who likes to spray passes around and that would allow us to be a lot more expansive.

“We have played some wonderful football this season, but next season we want to have a team of exciting players who attack people.”

The emergence of Sutherland has taken longer than that of fellow youngsters Ross and Shinnie, but he came of age on Wednesday night with a quite stunning goal in the 3-2 success at Celtic’s expense.

He is one of five players — Morrison, Stuart Duff, Kenny Gillet and Adam Rooney the four others — who formally received contract offers yesterday to remain at Caley Thistle next season.

Sutherland has a two-year deal on the table and it is understood he will sign it, good news for Butcher rates the 20-year-old forward highly.

“Shane has got the lot,” he said. “He’s got pace, power, he’s two-footed, and he’s good in the air. He just got to believe in himself more and I’m sure that goal will help him.

“I’ve told him that I want to try and play him in every game between now and the end of the season, but we have to remember this is still all part of a learning process for Shane.

“However, he gave Emilio Izaguirre a bit of a roasting and he has just been voted one of the best players in the SPL, so that should give him a great deal of confidence.”

Along with the departures of Munro, Duncan, Innes, Golabek and McBain, Butcher let go of Chris Hogg, Eric Odhiambo, Gil Blumenshtein, Dani Sanchez and Max Johnson. Aaron Doran and Alex MacDonald will return to their parent clubs once their loan deals have finished.