Ross County manager Don Cowie backs Australian midfield maestro Josh Nisbet to hit even greater heights after pleasing start to life in Dingwall
Don Cowie believes there is much more to come from summer signing Josh Nisbet as Ross County prepare to return to league action.
The Staggies will host Motherwell this weekend in their first match after the international break, which saw Nisbet remain in this hemisphere after being called for international duty with Australia in September.
He arrived in the Highlands to much fanfare after being named the A-League player of the year last season, and did seem to make an early impact before – like the rest of the County squad – falling victim to profligacy over recent weeks.
Cowie, though, is pleased with how Nisbet is progressing in an entirely different environment, and has backed the 25-year-old to keep improving going forward.
“It is a difficult transition, and you don’t always appreciate how difficult,” Cowie said of Nisbet’s start to life in Dingwall.
“Earlier this week he asked me if this was the coldest it gets! I had to tell him no. It is a very different environment for him.
“He’s an excellent player and when he first came there was that natural excitement and buzz, where he had an impact.
“He came out of the team for a couple of games as I felt there was maybe a little bit of a lull after not having a pre-season or what the rest of the group had.
“He’s come back into the team in the last few games and done really well. He’s got a lot of quality and, yes, I believe there is so much more to come.”
There has been a trend at Ross County of players coming into their own in their second season at the club after having that time to adjust to life in the Highlands.
The most notable example may be Regan Charles-Cook, who struggled in his first season with the Staggies before becoming the Premiership’s joint-top scorer in his second.
Cowie will be hoping Nisbet can hit top form more quickly than that, and in turn work his way back into contention with the Socceroos.
“Everyone’s different, unique, and develops and adapts at a different pace,” Cowie reasoned.
“Overall, I think Josh can be really happy not just with how he has adapted in terms of play, but in the way he has integrated with the group.
“He is a big character in the dressing room, and I’m pleased with his progress, but it is up to me to keep pushing him to get even more out of him.
“He is seeing this as a real opportunity for him to keep developing his individual career, with international football.
“He’s not got that right now, but I believe if he focuses on playing well for Ross County, those opportunities will come back around.”
