Kettlewell backs Ross to ignore the rumours
Stuart Kettlewell woke up to headlines linking his first-choice striker with a move away from Ross County to Premier ship rivals Aberdeen.
The Staggies boss admits he could have done without the distraction but has backed his Ross Stewart to stay focussed on firing Count y back onto the goal trail.
Reports claim Derek Mc Inn es is set to make a bid to lure the Staggies striker to Aberdeen on a pre - contract deal with the 24-year-old out of contract next summer.
Stewart has scored six goals this term but five have come from penalties and the only strike he did manage in open play was against Championship outfit Arbroath in a Betfred Cup clash.
Asked if it was t he last thing he needs, the Staggi es boss said :" It is. But knowing the guy so well I know it doesn't throw Ross off track.
“We want him scoring in open play and he's desperate to find the back of the net.
“He's a victim of his own success, I suppose. He' s done well this season and the stand out game was obviously at Parkhead in the Betfred Cup given how he led the line for us.
“I understand there' s going to be speculation on his future. But fundamentally we have to try to get him hitting the back of the net here.
“We have a busy spell leading up to January and plenty of games to showcase what he' s good at. Hopefully for us, that's hitting the back of the net.”
The next opportunity to do so is against Livingston on Wednesday in the quarter-final of the Betfred Cup.