Lonsana Doumbouya is far from satisfied despite a promising start to his Caley Thistle career and is determined to do more to make the role his own.
The powerful 26-year-old Frenchman, at 6ft 4in, has been proving a real handful to opposition defences with three goals in six starts so far this season.
Two goals in the last two matches suggest momentum is building for the Nice-born former Cercle Brugge forward but he is working hard with manager Richie Foran and his coaches to improve.
Doumbouya said: “When I score, I’m always happy. That’s normal. But I want to give more in my performances and offer more to the team. I’m trying all the time to work harder and try to influence the game as much as possible.
“I expect to score every game I play. That’s important. But it is also important for me to keep the ball better and use it well, helping my team-mates around me.
“It is different now from when I first came here. I wasn’t as well conditioned as I am now. Now my fitness is far greater but I score because the team help me and trust me.”
When he netted against Motherwell, Doumbouya tore straight over to the technical area to embrace manager Foran – a mark of the gratitude he has for the manager’s trust in his ability.
Doumbouya said: “I did it because the manager is the one who has worked closely with me, given me my chance and given me my confidence.
“It is important for me to have the confidence of the manager and to give him a good performance. He always speaks to me about little things I can do differently and better. He gives me confidence and sets up special training for me.
“Three goals is good but I want more. More for the team and more for me. It’s not finished – it’s a small start.”
Doumbouya believes all of the pressure is on Hearts coming to Inverness given their midweek defeat and the expectation resting on the Gorgie side’s shoulders in the scrap for European places.
He added: “There is no stress or pressure on us against Hearts. It’s important to go into the game with a good mentality and, hopefully, it will be a good outcome for Inverness.
“It could be quite a physical game, especially in the first 10 minutes with both sides looking to make a good start. But the game will open for Inverness to play the way we like to.”
