The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
County defenders are on Nisbet alert
Ross County defender Coll Donaldson is prepared for a new test when he faces Kevin Nisbet, despite coming up against the Hibernian striker in last year’ s Championship.
Nisbet enjoyed an excellent campaign with Dunfermline last season, netting 23 times for the Pars to earn a £ 250,000 move to Easter Road this summer.
Donaldson came up against the 23- year- old during his time at Caley Thistle, prior to making the move across the Kessock Bridge to Dingwall in January.
He feels Nisbet’s early form for Hibs, which has already seen him net seven goals in 11 appearances, will make him a different proposition at Victoria Park today.
Donaldson said: “It’s no surprise at all he is doing so well this season.
“In the Championship last year, he stood out along with Lawrence Shankland as two Premiership players playing in that league.
“He’s done exceptionally since going to Hibs, he’s their main man now.
“He’s playing with better players and that has improved his game too.
“Going to Hibs has taken his game to the next level and I don’t think it will be the same Kevin Nisbet I played against last year.
“He’s got a lot of strengths as a striker, he’s busy in the box. He’s not massive and he’s not rapid either, but he’s got good movement and is a finisher when he’s in the box.
“He will weigh on your mistakes or if you stop moving, so he’s got a lot.
“He scores goals with his right foot and his left foot, as well as being good in the air. He’s a striker we really need to watch or he will punish us.”
Donaldson has been part of a new- look Staggies backline this term, with new additions Alex Iacovitti and Connor Randall having played the majority of matches for Stuart Kettlewell’s side.
The 25-year-old is encouraged by the new partnerships, but is aiming to build on the three clean sheets County have amassed from their opening 10 matches.
He added: “We haven’t had a clean sheet in a couple of weeks so we are looking to get back to that, it’s something we have to focus on.
“Big Alex has done really well since he came in. He had to get used to the league and he has done that.
“We have built up a good partnership and I think having the long pre-season helped us.
“It was certainly the longest one I’ve ever had, we spent more time on the training ground than you normally would.
“That has benefited us but it’s not just Alex, you have to remember Connor Randall has come in while Josh Reid has come up from the youth team.
“It has been a new back four and I think having that time on the training ground, getting the work put into us by the manager and the coaching staff, has helped.
“They drilled into us that we need to be good at the back and we need to be strong.”
Donaldson felt the long pre-season helped him to settle in after his midseason move to County last term, adding: “It was like a fresh start in pre- season this year.
“When I first came here it was helter skelter – we had a lot of games and you didn’t really get a chance to work with the managers.
“It was play, recovery and play again. But over the summer we were able to get on the training ground, do all the work they wanted to do with us and get ready for the season ahead.”