Ross County manager Jim McIntyre is trying to manage the great expectations about his young midfielder Tony Dingwall.
The 20-year-old scored twice in Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Motherwell, rescuing a point for the Staggies with a last-minute equaliser.
Dingwall made his debut as a substitute against Hamilton Accies in September under then caretaker manager Steven Ferguson, but has seized the opportunity handed to him by McIntyre, who has started him in the Staggies’ last five games.
Dingwall has made a big impression with County supporters, but McIntyre has warned against getting carried away with his progress.
McIntyre said: “It’s important people don’t expect too much.
“He’s obviously got the perfect name for this club, and everybody is going to be saying he’s our new hero.
“We’ve got to let Tony develop properly. He’s done fantastically well, he’s been a breath of fresh air in the team.
“But that’s not going to happen every week. He’s going to have his ups and downs, and it’s important people realise that and don’t put too much pressure on him.
“We’ll know when the time is right to put him in the team, and take him out.
“The bottom line is Tony’s performances will keep him in the team. He’s judged like any other player. The fact he’s one of our youth products is fantastic, it’s exactly what we want, but he’s in the team on merit and he’ll be judged on how he plays.
“He’s very receptive, and very grounded. He’s had a good upbringing and his feet are firmly planted on the ground. It’s important he just keeps his head down, keeps working hard, listening and learning, and I’m sure he’ll do well.
“It’s way too early to start talking about the world being his oyster.
“He’s hardly played in the Premiership, but he’s had a good start with us. I’m not going to start saying he can be this or he can be that, but there’s no doubt he has got fantastic talent, a good temperament, and it’s just about making sure he’s got the right platform.”
McIntyre hopes Dingwall’s rise to the first-team can give other youngsters at Victoria Park – such as forward Kyle Macleod and defender Stephen Miller – every encouragement they need to make the step up.
McIntyre added: “There’s no doubt any time a youth product comes through and gets a run of games in the first-team, the younger ones below them should be saying it could be them.
“They should all be looking at that and thinking that can happen when they work hard, listen and learn.”