Malpas sees twin leadership role for returning Golabek
caley thistle look ahead with veteran defender as he returns from ross county
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Caley Thistle assistant manager Maurice Malpas believes Stuart Golabek can provide leadership on and off the field for Inverness after rejoining the club from Ross County.
A deal for the 34-year-old was finalised on transfer deadline day after County released the left back from his contract and Caley Jags let Richard Hastings join SPL side Hamilton Accies.
It is an unexpected signing but one Malpas reckons will be beneficial to the development of the younger players at Caledonian Stadium.
Five of Caley Thistle’s summer signings – Lee Cox, Nauris Bulvitis, Daniel Stratford, Robert Eagle and Jonny Hayes – are aged 23 or under and Golabek, who made 230 appearances for Inverness over seven seasons, will add experience and stability in defence.
Malpas said: “Stuart was a player that we knew was available and we jumped at the chance to bring him in.
“He is a former Caley Thistle player. I know him, as does Terry Butcher, and he is the right type of player for us. Hopefully, he can come here and settle in very quickly. He knows a few of the players in the dressing-room already so he should not have any problems settling in.
“He was at the club for a number of years and he knows how everything works. Hopefully, he can get away to a flier.
“It would have been easy for us to get a younger player to fill the gap with Richard Hastings leaving, but we felt we had to go for somebody with a bit of experience.
“He has played in a few of the divisions and he knows what is required. He will be a voice in the dressing-room and on the pitch for us.”
County manager Derek Adams, meanwhile, praised his young players for the composure they displayed in last Saturday’s derby victory at Caley Thistle.
Iain Vigurs, Michael Gardyne, Gary Miller, Martin Scott and Scott Boyd all played vital roles in the win at the Caledonian Stadium.
Adams said: “It was a very good performance and the players have been in high spirits in training this week. We just hope we can continue that in Sunday’s Challenge Cup game against Queen of the South.
“We have had to bring some of the younger players down a bit and now we have to perform at a high level again.
“When you play at the top end of football, when you win games you have to keep on winning and we will look this week to do the same thing.
“We have a good, young squad at the club and I thought our younger players were fantastic against Caley Thistle. Their ability on the ball, their work ethic and fitness levels were great. It was a big occasion for many of the players and I thought they coped with it and played to a high standard.”
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