inverness manager’s embarrassment of riches
Butcher delays naming team for cup final
Published:
Caley Thistle manager Terry Butcher will delay naming his team for the Challenge Cup final after being impressed by the attitude of his players in training.
Butcher has selected the same starting 11 for the last two league games – against Ross County and Airdrie United – but has yet to decide whether to make changes for the final against Dundee at Perth’s McDiarmid Park on Sunday.
Inverness recovered from their Highland derby defeat to claim victory against the Diamonds and Butcher has a full squad to choose from.
He said: “I have not got my team yet. Everybody has been trying to play their way into the cup-final team in training this week. Everyone is back and available, which is amazing. Eric Odhiambo scored on Saturday and we have very good options all over.
“Robert Eagle cannot even get into the 16 at the moment and Roy McBain and Andy Barrowman are back in training as well.
“Training has been very good and we have some hungry players desperate to be in the cup final squad.”
Butcher is aware of Dundee’s strength in depth but is confident his forwards will pose a threat.
Inverness have scored more league goals than any other side in the First Division this season and in Adam Rooney and Richie Foran have two of the most prolific attackers in Scottish football’s second tier.
“Cup finals are one-off games,” said Butcher.
“Dundee played a different system on Saturday against Queen of the South which they haven’t used before this season.
“They used a 4-4-2 system when we played them earlier in the season. They are a very adaptable side so it will be interesting to see how they line up.
“I didn’t have any worries about the players bouncing back against Airdrie. We have done that so many times this season.
“The only consistent thing is we bounce back, but we want to be in a position to continue progressing.
“It was disappointing we didn’t score more goals against Airdrie.”
