We’ll struggle to keep Liam – County star
MARTIN WOODS fears Ross County are destined to lose top scorer Liam Boyce to a big-money offer from England.
Ross County midfielder Woods saw the Northern Ireland international tear rivals Inverness Caley Thistle apart with a remarkable four-goal show on Friday night.
The individual spree took Boyce’s personal contribution to 21 goals for the campaign, 20 in the league.
Boyce’s Highland derby haul, from four clashes with Inverness this season, rose to nine goals. The return also took the 26-year-old through the 50-goal barrier for his County career.
Boyce has another year to run on his current Dingwall contract.
But experienced Woods, the former Sunderland, Rotherham and Doncaster Rovers playmaker, believes holding on to the club’s prize asset may now be close to impossible.
The 31-year-old said: “Boycey’s been superb all season.
“He had a great season last year, as well, but got the wrong advice with his injury and ended up missing a few games with the broken wrist.
“In the last couple of years he’s been absolutely brilliant and, with the goals he’s scored, I’m just delighted for him.
“He’s a very good footballer to play with and, for me, I know if I play a ball around the corner I can make a run off Boycey and trust that he’s going to play you back in. “He’s got great awareness. “Everybody’s got to be looking at him, with the goals he’s scored the last couple of years.
“It’s not just that, it’s the way he brings people into play and he’s just an all-round player. I love playing with him.
“He’s right up there with the best up here. I really enjoy playing with him. He’s a great worker and a really good boy as well.
“If I was putting my head on the line I think we might struggle to keep him.”
County rose 11 points above their great foes with victory on Friday night, but still have work to do to ensure there is no late-season slip into the relegation play-off zone.