Coyle fun to work for but he’s not to be messed with

SAYS MARCUS FRASER

MARCUS FRASER believes the secret to Owen Coyl e ’ s early success at Ross County is a healthy dose of fun and laughter. forward to testing his central defensive talents against the very best in t he country in Saturday’s live televised encounter.

‘Celtic will come to us unbeaten But the former Celtic defender in 63 domestic games and, no knows all merriment stops and matter what anyone says, that’s the mood darkens the moment a great achievement,’ said standards slip or someone steps Fraser. ‘It doesn’t happen often, out of line. anywhere in football.

Coyle quickly won over the ‘They have done really well, Dingwall dressing room by but Celtic have so many good making sure there were smiles players and that’s why they are on the players’ faces as they doing it. went about their daily graft. ‘When you come up against

Results have improved under better sides, you have to the ex-Burnley, Bolton and have belief and trust in your Blackburn manager, with the team-mates, something we have Staggies now just a point off in abundance here. the top six heading into‘ Coming into this week, I was Saturday’s daunting test against looking forward to seeing how champions Celtic. the manager would set up the

However, for all the high jinks game plan as I knew he would and light-hearted atmosphere, have it in his head already. Coyle doesn’t suffer fools gladly. ‘I know it’s Celtic and people Fraser (pictured) knows County will say how good they are and have a serious, driven individual what they’ve got, but this is a plotting a path forward and home game and we have to try he has witnessed d Coyle and impo impose ourselves. rule with a rod of f iron ‘ Thi This will be my when the occasion on tou toughest test as a calls for it. ce central defender. I’n

‘Since the gaffer r I’ve been playing came in, it has next to Andrew been good,’ said D Davies, which Fraser .‘ The helps—he is training is high aggressive and intensity and leads the boys everything is well. We work well done with h to together and I’ve purpose. He likes es be been enjoying it. everyone with a Lon Long may that smile on their face e but contin continue. if it’s not done rightgh the is‘ Again‘ Against teams like quick in telling you. Celtic, it’s about testing yourself

‘ The boys know they can against the very best players, express themselves, but as soon but as a team the game plan as you step over the mark he might be to sacrifice something tells you in no uncertain terms. or you might have to give up

‘The boys have been working your usual job. with him for a month or so now, ‘Whatever it takes for the team so we know when we can have a to do well, that is the most laugh and a joke, but on the important thing. I can play in a pitch it’s very serious.’ number of positions across the

Fraser was already thriving as back line and I’m happy to play a centre-half before the sacking anywhere. In training we play of Coyle’s predecessor Jim in different roles and it’ s McIntyre, with his quality on the challenging, but I love it.’ ball providing a good foil for the Fraser has been proud to wear more physically commanding the skipper’s armband, but is traits of captain Andrew Davies. not getting ahead of himself.

It is a measure of 23-year-old ‘When Andy wasn’t fit and the Fraser’s progress, almost three gaffer gave me the armband, it years after his release from was great,’ added Fraser. Celtic, that Coyle recently ‘He is the obvious captain, but made him captain in Davies’ if it’s me next time then I will absence. be happy to step in and

Used more as a right-back in do that. We have leaders all past seasons, he is now looking over the park’