Robertson ready to see Mulraney make mark

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John Robertson believes Jake Mulraney is finally ready to realise his full potential at Caley Thistle after embracing the management’s message.

Describing the young Dubliner as “one of the quickest” players he had seen, former Hearts striker Robertson shed light on hard work being expended behind the scenes to hone Mulraney’s trickery and talent.

Robertson believes the winger is capable of great things in his career if he becomes more of a disciplined team player.

The analysis of Mulraney’s progress came just a few days after the 21-yearold struck a memorable solo goal for the Republic of Ireland under-21s in Norway.

Robertson said: “I’ve seen him from a pundit’s point of view and now we’re working with him.

“He’s lightning quick, with two great feet and wonderful ability. It is just that, sometimes, his perception of doing well varies from what the team and coaches think.

“In the last three or four matches, he’s buck- led down, worked hard defensively and developed a better understanding of what he needs to provide as an end product.

“People from the outside might say ‘if he’s got all this talent, why is he not playing?’ and, in previous times, it has been because he’s not done it in a team sense. We hope the penny has dropped the last few weeks. He’s been working after training and hopefully it’ll pay off. He’s lovely, great to work with and wants to do well, but he needs to understand it’s not all about tricks and flicks.

“There’s a time and place for that. We’d never stop him entertaining the public but he’s got to have an end product. His recent statistics tell a different story. He scored a wonderful goal against Norway and we’re hopeful that’s lifted his spirits and he understands he can score goals.

“In this league he can be an influential player. He should be a world-beater in the Championship.

“As coaches, we’re trying to find the magic formula that turns him into the player he could be. He doesn’t know himself how good he can be if he sticks to the basics. He’s one of the quickest players I’ve seen.”

Robertson, approaching tonight’s home Championship against Brechin City, is not greatly interested in extending the team’s sevengame run without losing a goal; points are the priority.

He added: “It was fantastic to break the clean sheet record but I don’t care if we win 1-0, 4-3 or 10-9, it’s about points on the board.

“We have eight matches between now and January which will define where we’re going to be.”

Meanwhile, Inverness will travel to Premiership side Dundee in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup in January.

“Lightning quick, with twogreatfeet andwonderful ability”