The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Draper set for comeback
Midfielder to return from injury for County in Carlisle friendly
Ross Draper is set to make his comeback today after four months out with injury.
The Englishman has not kicked a ball competitively since breaking his kneecap in Ross County’s Highland derby win in Inverness in March.
Steven Pressley’s English League Two side come north for County’s final pre-season friendly before facing Hamilton Accies in the Premiership opener in Dingwall.
Co-manager Stuart Kettlewell is delighted to have the powerful 30-yearold on the mend.
Kettlewell said: “Ross has been training fully and we’re hoping to see him back in action at some point on Saturday. That was always the target and he has met that.
“He’s another it will be good to see back challenging for a place in the team.”
But Kettlewell stressed County would have to be patient in awaiting the return of another midfielder, Don Cowie, from his knee problem. The veteran former Cardiff City and Hearts playmaker is several weeks away from playing.
Kettlewell said: “Don is progressing. It has been a slightly longer process than we hoped, to Don’s own frustration. He’s a complete professional, so he is going through a process to make sure he comes back in, fully fit and ready.
“Originally he had an operation on his ankle, but he then had a slight niggle with his knee.
“The ankle is absolutely fine now. We’re just trying to correct things with his knee now, which was a problem, to be honest. He played through with great credit towards the end of last season.
“I thought he was excellent, but we need to get him right and I’m looking forward to getting Don back on the pitch.”
Kettlewell is hopeful a good performance today will satisfactorily complete a useful pre-season that has taken County around the Highlands, to Holland and back home.
The League Cup group D winners lost midfielder Jamie Lindsay to Rotherham earlier in the week but Kettlewell believes they have made strides from last season.
He said: “Without being disrespectful to anybody, we see ourselves as being in a stronger position this pre-season than last. That’s obviously important stepping up to the Premiership.
“The strength in depth and balance in the squad is excellent and there’s fierce competition all over the park.
“I think the Carlisle friendly gives us a brilliant variety in what we’ve faced this pre-season. We’ve encountered a lot of different types of football.
“It is also just another opportunity for gametime,” he said.
“Carlisle, again, will be a different type of game, with a management who obviously know the Scottish game well.”