The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Grivosti out to seize spot
Injuries hand teenage Liverpudlian his County opportunity
Ross County defender Tom Grivosti hopes to convince comanagers Steven Ferguson and Stuart Kettlewell age is no barrier in his efforts to fill the void in the Staggies’ backline.
Englishman Grivosti made his senior debut as a substitute in a 2-1 Championship victory over Ayr United last month, with the 19-year-old drawing plaudits for his display.
Although he has not featured since, injuries to defenders Liam Fontaine, Callum Morris and Sean Kelly could pave the way for Grivosti to play in today’s Irn-Bru Cup quarter-final tie against Motherwell Colts at Fir Park.
Grivosti says an honest conversation with Ferguson and his former reserve manager Kettlewell earlier this season has given him the impetus to force his way into their first-team plans.
He said: “I had an operation in the summer and I came back from that quite slowly from my own point of view. It took me a while to get going.
“It was an impingement in my ankle and had to get a bone removed. I was back within eight weeks so it was not too bad.
“But when the comanagers brought me into the office and said they wanted more from me that spurred me on to do better. I have showed I have trained and played better, so it has really helped me.
“I have to thank the managers for the faith they have shown in me.
“Hopefully I have done well and it has paid off for them.
“They have tried to keep my standards as high as they know I can keep them. They have been pushing me every day when I have been training with the first team.
“They’re trying to get the best out of me. They know what I am capable of and it’s just trying to implement that at first-team level. They have shown trust in me so far so I have to thank them for that.
“My chance came about when Callum Morris and Liam Fontaine got injured. You obviously don’t wish it on anyone else to get injured but that’s how my chance came about, and I’ve just got to take it when it comes.”
Liverpool-born Grivosti was brought to the Staggies by Kettlewell in 2017 as part of his Development squad, and the former Bolton Wanderers player is eager to make the most of the opportunity.
He added: “I joined Bolton aged 12 and I was with them through to the age of 18. When I didn’t get offered a professional contract, Stuart and my agent sorted me to come up here on trial. I signed and I’ve been here since the start of last season.
“I wasn’t expecting it, but as soon as I came up here and saw the facilities, and spoke to Stuart about what the club means to him, straight away I realised it’s not some small club up in the Highlands. It means a lot to people around here.”
Grivosti won the North of Scotland Cup with County last month.