Caley Thistle coach Barry Wilson believes the Highlanders have assembled a squad which should set promotion to the Premiership as its realistic aim.
Inverness finished third in the Championship last season to qualify for the promotion play-offs, but fell short in a 4-0 aggregate defeat to Dundee United.
Manager John Robertson has made five new additions, with James Keatings, David Carson, Nikolay Todorov, James Vincent and Mitch Curry joining so far.
Wilson feels Caley Jags are better equipped for a tilt at reclaiming a top-flight place for the first time since 2017 this term, and he said: “The target has got to be promotion.
“As a squad we look stronger than we did last year.
“Whether we prove that or not is another thing. But at the minute we look like we’ve got a stronger squad in depth.
“That gives us more options. We might be able to handle injuries and suspensions a little bit better.
“It’s all about getting off to a good start.
“Last year we had that run of eight draws and we were always trying to play catch up after that.
“It’s important we get right in about the mix as early as possible this year.
“That has to be our aim.”
Although Inverness lost midfield pair Liam Polworth and Joe Chalmers to Premiership sides Motherwell and Ross County respectively, Wilson expects a better strike rate from their replacements, adding: “Liam has been a great servant to the club, and Joe did really well in the two years he was here.
“Last year I think Liam scored three goals and Joe scored one. For the amount of games they played, we would be hoping for a bigger return from our midfielders than that.
“They were still very big players for us, but we are hoping to maybe get more of a return from our midfielders in that side.
“Looking at the midfielders, we’ve now got four in James Vincent, Sean Welsh, Charlie Trafford and David Carson, competing for two places in the middle of the park.
“That’s just something we didn’t have last year.”
