Midfielder enjoying his football

County midfielder Ross Draper says thriving with the Staggies has allowed him to enjoy football for the first time in more than two years.

Despite County’s relegation from the top-flight last season, a strong start to the Championship campaign has restored the feelgood factor at Dingwall, with Stuart Kettlewell and Steven Ferguson’s men three points adrift of leaders Ayr United.

The Staggies host Dundee United this afternoon.

Englishman Draper had suffered the drop with rivals Caley Thistle the previous season before making the switch across the Kessock Bridge in 2017, and the 30-year-old says the back-to-back relegations took their toll on his life away from football.

Draper said: “If I’m honest, I hadn’t enjoyed football for two years before this season. It’s not nice – you’re losing week-in, week-out and can’t get out of that rut.

“It ruins your life, if I’m honest. “You go home on a Saturday night and it is a long weekend – the missus isn’t happy you’re not going out.

“It is a vicious circle. Going in on a Monday isn’t nice, watching the videos back of you losing.

“I still loved going into training for those two years but I just couldn’t enjoy it fully when losing and can’t get rid of that habit.

“This year, we’ve had the other side of the coin, where we can’t get out of the habit of winning games, which is good to have. Hopefully that continues.

“Everyone’s on a high now and there’s a brilliant atmosphere around the club.”