Dundee legend Cammy Kerr is determined to make his four-month stint with Caley Thistle one to relish.
The experienced right-back, 28, has 271 appearances for the Dark Blues and won two second-tier titles with the club and a promotion to the Premiership via the play-offs.
He’s just emerged from a sparkling testimonial year, but he doesn’t fit in with current manager Tony Docherty’s immediate plans for this season.
Just 12 games for Dundee this season led him to seek options away from the club he adores and the chance to shift north on loan when Duncan Ferguson came calling was too good to ignore.
Kerr made his debut in last week’s 3-2 victory at title-chasing Raith Rovers, pushing eighth-placed ICT six points clear of basement side Arbroath and four points in front of Saturday’s visitors Queen’s Park.
Kerr ‘relishing’ new challenge at ICT
Having spent a decade at Dens Park, he never expected to have to find a new club, even in the short-term, but he’s in a positive frame of mind about what he’s experienced in the Highland capital so far.
He said: “I’m enjoying it massively. The boys have been great.
“I know Maxie (Max Anderson) from his time at Dundee, but all the boys have helped me settle in.
”It’s a lovely city and I’ve enjoyed every moment.
“For myself, it is all about getting games. I was frustrated by a lack of game-time at Dundee, but these things happen in football.
“It’s a new challenge and the first time I’ve had to do this in my career, at the age of 28.
“But it is something I’m relishing. I’ve never done it before and I want to set myself a challenge.
“Whatever happens come the summer, I want to give myself the best opportunity. As well as that, I want to help the boys here and try to push up the league as much as I can.”
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Kerr aiming to set high standards
Kerr won the Championship with Dundee in 2014 and last year and helped the Taysiders win the promotion play-offs at the expense of Kilmarnock in 2021.
However, the defender insists his own CV comes secondary to what he can bring to the table for Caley Thistle until the end of the campaign.
He said: “It is not something I look at a lot, personal achievements. All I want to do is give all I’ve got for this football club, as I would any club I go to.
“I can help the younger boys by trying to set standards every day in training and by doing well in the games.
“That’s what it comes down to in the end – trying to help the boys get over the line in every game.
“I’m getting older obviously, but I’m only 28. I think big Mark Ridgers thought I was a lot older because I seem to have been around for so long.
“I’m always learning myself and I’m going to learn a lot off the manager here, as I already have. Hopefully I can help the boys along the way.”
Kerr’s full attention is with Inverness
Kerr, who says Ferguson was a “big factor” in him opting to go on loan at ICT, hasn’t given up hope of a successful return to Dundee.
However, he stressed – right now – Inverness is what matters.
He added: “I’ve still got a contract at Dundee and my support and love for the football club is no secret.
“Being a professional, I think I’ve just got to focus on just now. It isn’t something I’ve had to do up until now, move away, but now it has come – and it is an opportunity that has come quite quickly – my attention has to be here.
“And it will be until the end of the season.
“Whatever happens at the end of the season, happens, but for the next four months my sole focus is on Inverness.”
