Midfielder Charlie Gilmour hopes helping beat Hibs in the Scottish Cup could be the next step towards becoming a top-flight performer with Caley Thistle.
The former Arsenal youth player, 24, was signed by previous ICT manager Billy Dodds after impressing at Cove Rangers in the Championship last term.
Gilmour was on loan from St Johnstone, where he spent two-and-a-half years, which also included a spell racking up game-time with Alloa Athletic in League One.
Overall, he made just 14 appearances with the Premiership Perth Saints, but his move to the Highlands has been a winning one for him.
He’s played all but one of ICT’s 30 games in all competitions, with current manager Duncan Ferguson making him one of the first names on the team-sheet.
Seventh-placed Inverness are closer to the foot of the Championship than the top-four promotion spots right now, but a strong end to the season might take them into play-off contention.
Consistent season on a personal level
Gilmour explained he’s got mixed feelings about how his debut campaign with ICT is going.
He said: “It’s frustrating because, as a team, we should be doing better.
“But on a personal level, I am playing every week and enjoying my football again.
“It’s probably the first time in my career where I’m playing consistently and injury-free.
🎱 The draw for the Quarter Finals of the @scottishgas Men's Scottish Cup will take place during @BBCOne Scotland's coverage of @AirdrieoniansFC and @JamTarts on Sunday.
Coverage begins at 4.30pm, with the draw to be conducted prior to the 5pm kick-off.#ScottishCup pic.twitter.com/k5TPmqxqDO
— Scottish Gas Scottish Cup (@ScottishCup) February 7, 2024
“I never really played much (at St Johnstone), but hopefully I can do well here at Inverness and progress into the Premiership.
“I am happy with how I’m doing, but I’m just frustrated for the team. Hopefully we can start climbing the table next week.”
ICT determined to make an impact
For now, the chance to tackle the top-table’s seventh-placed side Hibs in round five of he Scottish Cup tops the agenda.
Gilmour said: “I want to test myself and play in the biggest games possible.
“Playing against Premiership opposition is always good. It indicates how far away you are.
“Hopefully I and the team can do well against Hibs and start making names for ourselves.
“It would mean a lot to me and the boys. Hopefully we can get a good result.”
Gaps might open up against Hibs
Just two home league wins all season have hampered ICT’s progress, but Gilmour thinks Hibs’ attacking style might just suit them this weekend.
He added: “We play better against teams that come at us, which might leave gaps in their defence.
“Hopefully we can exploit their weaknesses and get at them a bit more.”
Repeat run to final is goal for ICT
Gilmour was not part of the Inverness squad which reached last year’s Scottish Cup final, losing 3-1 against treble-winning Celtic at Hampden.
When asked whether his team-mates relive stories of their experiences of that run, which saw them knock out Livingston, Kilmarnock and Falkirk on the way, he said: “It’s finally stopped.
“Hopefully we can go one step further and win it.”