Ross Stewart may have signed a long-term contract with Ross County but the forward is determined to make a quick breakthrough into the Staggies first team.
Stewart penned a three-year deal when he joined County from Premiership side St Mirren earlier in the summer, but has made just one start and two substitute appearances so far.
Despite being tied down until 2021, Stewart is on a mission to establish himself with the Dingwall side, after netting the winner for County’s reserves in their 2-1 win over Brora Rangers in the North of Scotland Cup semi final on Wednesday.
The 22-year-old said: “I know it’s long-term, but I still want to get into the team as quickly as I can and play as many games as I can.
“The three-year deal is good as not many of them go about. That’s not my focus though, my focus is trying to do well on the pitch and help the team.
“The managers have been great with me. They have indicated how they see it, I’m on board with everything they are doing.
“They pick the team and I’m with that. Hopefully down the line it can be me that’s on the team-sheet, but if not I will be the one supporting the boys on the pitch.
“We’re a team and to do well in a league, everybody needs to be united. I’m here to play my part.”
Stewart is up against the likes of Brian Graham, Declan McManus and Billy Mckay for a striking berth at Victoria Park, and he knows he must make the most of any opportunity handed to him by co-managers Stuart Kettlewell and Steven Ferguson.
He added: “When you’re at a club like Ross County, which wants to be up there fighting for the league come the end of the year, there is a lot of quality in the team.
“There are a lot of good strikers and sometimes you’ve just got to be patient. Yes, it’s frustrating, but you just have to be patient.
“When the chance comes you’ve got to go in and try and take it.”
Irvine-born Stewart spent the latter part of last season on loan with Alloa Athletic, who he helped gain promotion from League 1 with 10 goals in 23 appearances.
Stewart feels confident he can establish himself in the Championship with County, who face Queen of the South at Palmerston tomorrow.
He added: “This is a really good level and there are a lot of really good teams in the league.
“I feel the loan spell at Alloa, going down to the league below, and scoring as many goals as I did to help them to promotion gave me a good platform to go into this league to try and do the same thing.
“I feel Ross County is the right club to be at in order to do that. I’ve had a lot of help from the club off the field, I feel I’m settling, and hopefully that can reflected in the performances.”
