Caley Thistle manager John Hughes reckons today’s game against Motherwell is the first of three matches his side must win in order to secure a top-six place.
Time is running out for Caley Jags to secure a fourth consecutive top-half finish, despite signing off for the recent international break with an impressive 3-0 win against rivals Ross County last month.
Today’s game against the Steelmen is followed by a home match against Hearts on Tuesday, before next Saturday’s trip to Dundee United.
With four points currently separating his side from sixth-placed County, Hughes believes maximum points will be required.
Hughes said: “It’s must-win now.
“We know we’re up against it and we need to win the next three games against Motherwell, Hearts and Dundee United.
“It’s as simple as that, so we’ll soon find out one way or another.
“Hopefully we can take the confidence and momentum from the last result against Ross County and take it into the game.
“The two teams are very close, it will probably be like that between now and the end of the season. We’re going to have to be at it, and at our best, in the next three games to try to pick up maximum points.
“If not, we’ll not get to where we want to go.
“There’s no excuse. We need to go and win.”
Hughes will be boosted by the return of several players from injury this weekend, with goalkeeper Dean Brill, midfielder Andrea Mbuyi-Mutombo and Dundee-bound James Vincent all back in contention, while full back David Raven should return to training next week.
With only midfielder Aaron Doran still to return from a knee problem, Hughes is pleased to have a strong squad as the end of the season approaches.
The Caley Jags manager added: “We’ve been crying out for the numbers all season.
“All the players who have come back from injury have had a good rehab so they’ll be sharp and fit. They’ll come right into our thinking, and I know I’ll get a good hour out of them.
“We just want to make sure they don’t pick up any injuries from training, and if not they’ll come right into the plans.”
