We can Joe all the way YOU’RE POTTY, SIGNED KETTLE
No grudges after pair team up at Staggies
Joe Chalmers dreams of the kind of Hampden moment on the pitch that Celtic’s Tom Rogic gave him in the stand two years ago.
With Caley Thistle two steps away from a return to the national stadium, he sees no reason why it t can’t happen.
The former Hoops kid d celebrated with his family y and pals as the Aussie fired d a last-minute winner that at sealed an invincible treble e in Brendan Rodgers’ first st season at the Hoops.
Now he and his Inverness ss mates want to repeat their ir 2015 Scottish Cup win.
They can move into the e quarter-finals if they can n overcome derby rivals Ross ss County tomorrow night.
The 25-year-old said: The fact it’s only four seasons since Inverness last won the Cup makes you think it’s achievable again.
“The pictures on the
But there are no grudges – not now he has to create new ones with his old mates at Inverness if he wants a return to Hampden. Ross County midfielder Draper crossed the Kessock Bridge 18 months ago. He still has plenty of ties that bind with the Inverness squad he left behind. None of which count for anything as he helps County and Stuart Kettlewell, the guy he flattened in January 2014, chase one part of what he hopes is a treble. With the last place in the Scottish Cup quarters available tomorrow night, County are still chasing Championship glory and an IrnBru Cup win to go along with it and Draper can’t wait. He said: “I’ve had some memorable derbies. I scored nine minutes into my first one for Inverness, the first ever between the clubs in the top division.
“It went in off my back from a corner, but they all count, right? Jesus, that’s seven years ago.
“I got red carded in one for an elbow on Stuart as well. I maybe jumped with my arm a little but he’s gone down and started rolling over. I always say he went down too easy! “Any time you win or score in a derby is a brilliant feeling. If that happens again, I’m sure it will match any of those days. “I’m not going to lie, though, it is strange at Global Energy Stadium, Tomorrow, 7.15pm KO, Live on BBC 2 Scotland times, playing against players I played with for years.
“When you’re coming up against them one on one, as I might do with Liam Polworth on Monday night for example, it’s strange.
“But it’s business. It’s what you do. You have to put old friendships to one side.
“I did my best for Inverness for five years. Now I’m doing my best every time I pull on a Staggies shirt.”
Either way, Midlands- born Draper’s heart now lies firmly in the Highlands and he insists that’s a character trait they have every right to expect from their team-mates.
He said: “It possibly does feel like home. I’ll always have ties here now. My partner’s from here and I’ve got two little boys for whom this place will always be home in terms of where they were born.
“Te r r y Butcher always used to say this was a unique place – that was his selling point when he was getting players to come up here.
“He embraced it and loved it up here and missed it when he went down to Hibs and Newport.
“There wasn’t that feeling of everyone being in one place.
“I know the feeling. All the lads knock about together.
“We were at Don Cowie’s house a couple of Tuesdays ago for a pool competition. A bit of darts, a bit of food – all the boys were there.
“There were 25 lads in his house, but there was plenty of space – don’t worry about that! He has got a massive place!
“But all the lads knock about together. You have to have a good dressing room.
“When you’re recruiting, you’re looking more at character than ability, if I’m honest.
“If you come up and show the right attitude you’re going to be a success. You have to bond with the lads and if you’re a character who shies away from that it kind of sticks out because of where everyone lives.
“At Inverness we signed English lads and there was no getting home for them, so we had to link together. That’s why we were successful and it’s the same with this squad.”
Both Highland sides have been in the top six of the Premiership in the last five years, yet now find themselves toiling to get back to past glories.
But while promotion is their main aim, a win tomorrow night leaves them one step away from Hampden.
Draper said: “You never know where you can go from there. “Yes, the main aim for us this season is to get promoted. But a good Cup run would be brilliant.
“We’re still fighting on three fronts – you’re going to label that the treble aren’t you!
“What a fantastic opportunity to win a trophy, whether that’s IrnBru, Scottish Cup or Championship.
“What a chance to go and lift some silverware and write it into the club’s history.
“Like I said, the main aim is promotion, but you never know what can happen when you get to this stage of the Cup.”