I’m here for a 4th promotion party
JAMES KEATINGS hopes to be Inverness’ lucky charm in the Premiership play-offs – even though he won’t kick a ball.
The striker, released by Hamilton, tied up a two-year deal with John Robertson’s team yesterday and will have to wait until next season for his first bow.
But the 27-year-old, who started out at Celtic, has a knack of turning out for promotion parties after a hat-trick of leaps from the Championship with Hamilton, Hearts and Hibs.
Keatings revealed the lasting bond he built with Robertson while winning the Championship at Tynecastle in season 2014-15 swayed him.
After a couple of injury-hit seasons with Dundee United and Accies, the former Scotland youth international was quickly sold on the move north.
The former Scotland Under-19 international said: “Leaving Hamilton a couple of weeks ago was what I wanted.
“I’d spoken to John Robertson and it had been going on for a wee while. I had other teams contacting me but I felt this was the right place for me – and he was the right person.
“I’ve known the gaffer for a good few years now and he was brilliant with me when I was at Hearts. He used to give me a lot of encouragement.”
Keatings pledged his future to Caley Thistle regardless of which league they would be playing in next season.
But he is convinced Robertson’s men, quarter-final victors against Ayr, can complete the job against Dundee United and the secondbottom Premiership side.
Keatings said: “I’ve been fortunate enough to win promotion from this league needs to deliver that through the play-offs.
The on-loan Slovakian international signed on at Tannadice to get the club back into the Premiership.
Aalborg ace Safranko said: “I said from the moment I came to Dundee United I wanted to take this club back into the Premiership.
“That was more important to me than being top scorer or anything.
“There was only one target and since being here I feel that even more.
“I like this club and I know what it means to the people here for it to be in the top division.” tonight ICT are 7-4 with Ladbrokes while United are 6-4 at McBookie and out to take advantage of signs of fatigue. I can see an edgy affair tonight that ends all square at 12-5 at McBookie.
United draw no bet is 19-20 with Marathonbet.
Clyde are favourites to beat Annan in the League One final but face a tough test at Galabank. Should be a cracker between two form sides so take both to score.
Make it a double with both to score in the second leg of the Championship semi-final between West Brom v Aston Villa.
Villa, one defeat in 14, lead 2-1 and shouldn’t throw this away but there’s likely to be plenty of action.
Super Single Dundee Utd dnb (19-20) Both to Score Double
Annan v Clyde West Brom v Aston Villa
(27-10, McBookie)
CALEDONIAN STADIUM, TONIGHT, 7.45, LIVE ON BT SPORT 1