Ross County defender Akil Wright is Don Cowie’s Mr Adaptable after Rangers and Motherwell shows prove he can play in midfield and on the wing
Ross County manager Don Cowie is convinced he could play adaptable Akil Wright anywhere on the park.
Since his summer move from Stockport County, the versatile central defender has slotted comfortably into various slots in the Staggies’ back three.
Against Rangers at Ibrox, he stepped forward into midfield and impressed, and in last weekend’s 3-0 win at Motherwell excelled as right wing-back.
Cowie hasn’t yet contemplated placing Wright between the sticks.
But the County manager wouldn’t hesitate in deploying the athletic 28-year-old in any outfield role including attack - with three goals to his name already.
Wright has also played in every Ross County match so far, bar the shock League Cup defeat to Spartans.
The Dingwall club paid an undisclosed fee to bring Wright north of the border for the first time in his career, but whatever the sum was, Cowie counts it as a bargain.
Cowie said: “I think Akil has been outstanding for us this season - so consistent.
“Against Motherwell, unfortunately Michee Efete was injured and Jimmy Brown had a family bereavement.
“I was thinking about who to play there and it was an easy decision in the end.
“I genuinely feel you could play Akil anywhere on the pitch and he would do a really good job for the team.
“He took maybe 15-20 minutes getting used to the new position and then he was off. His sheer physicality and mobility on the pitch would allow him to be effective anywhere.”
Fortunately for Cowie, the striker’s role seems pretty well catered for at the moment with Irishman Ronan Hale on 12 goals – three in the last four games – Jordan White on 10 and former Huddersfield Town frontman Kieran Phillips looking dangerous after five appearances.
Cowie, though, is still looking for more from Hale despite recent praise being lavished on the ex-Cliftonville goalgrabber.
While praising the Hale and Phillips pairing for Saturday’s show, Cowie said: “They’ve not had much game-time as a pair and they can do better.
“Ronan gets his two goals, but there’s aspects of the game where he could have done an awful lot better, his hold-up play.
“We always know he is capable of scoring goals, but he has to keep improving.
“There were one or two occasions where, especially for Ronan’s second goal, Kieran makes a really good run which opened up the space without him even touching the ball.
“There are good signs, but we have good options up there with Jordan White, George Robesten and Alex Samuel who is working back to fitness.”
Cowie, meanwhile, is not dwelling on poor recent form from visitors Dundee.
The Dark Blues have lost seven of their last 11 Premiership games, including the last three in a row where they have shipped 14 goals with only one conceded.
But Cowie stressed: “They will be disappointed with the results they have had recently.
“It’s still a team who finished in the top-six last year, and had a fantastic season. They have a very good manager.
“I think they will see it as a real opportunity, in terms of where we both are in the league. They know if they win the game, they go above us. That will be a big incentive for them.
“But we are in a really good place, and looking forward to it. We will prepare right, as we always do, and try to give the best version of ourselves on Saturday.”
County should have an unchanged squad from, last weekend’s fine win at Motherwell, but Cowie added: “Will Nightingale is another week further on which is really good, and Alex Samuel is getting closer to being part of the group.
“We won’t see defender Ryan Leak again this season, while Michee Efete is still working his way back, but he’s not quite at the stage the other two are. It may be a wee bit longer with him.”