Armstrong starts again with County

DANIEL ARMSTRONG once looked to have a bright future as a teenager at Wolves when he signed a three-year contract with the Molineux club in 2015.

However, the winger’s dream failed to materialise and he was loaned to Dunfermline last year then subsequently switched to Raith Rovers.

But Armstrong is poised to begin again at the age of 21 after landing a move to Ross County last month.

He has quickly established himself in the minds of Staggies fans after helping fire the Highlanders to a fifth Irn-Bru Challenge Cup final on his debut in Friday’s 2-1 semi-final victory over East Fife.

Armstrong’s goal direct from a corner kick was added to by Declan McManus before a late first-half counter from Anton Dowds gave the League One side renewed hope.

Now Armstrong is aiming to shoot down local rivals Inverness Caley Thistle too in Tuesday’s Scottish Cup fifth-round replay at the Caledonian Stadium.

‘Hopefully, I’ve done myself a bit of good scoring in my first match,’ he said.

Staggies co-manager Steven Ferguson said: ‘Armstrong has got good delivery. That’s one of his strengths and a reason we brought him here. He’s a dead-ball specialist.’

Ferguson and Stuart Kettlewell made seven changes in the wake of the 2-2 home draw with Inverness in an effort to test the depth of their squad.

East Fife boss Darren Young remained upbeat about the part-time League One club’s future prospects. He said: ‘It’s great that we have guys in the dressing room that are gutted to have lost in successive cup matches to Championship sides.

‘That tells you something about the attitude and ambition of our players and it’s a solid foundation to build on.’