Ross County defender Marcus Fraser says the danger of relegation to the Championship did not enter his thinking when he signed a new one-year contract this week.
Fraser has committed his future to the Dingwall side until 2018 having established himself as a regular in Jim McIntyre’s side, making 82 appearances since joining from tomorrow’s opponents Celtic in January 2015.
The former Scotland under-21 international feels he is progressing well with County, and is confident the club will steer clear of danger, with the Highlanders sitting just three points above the relegation play-off position with six games left.
Fraser said: “I decided it was going to be the best thing for me to stay here. I’m enjoying it and playing games, so I just need to challenge myself to hopefully keep playing well and stay in the team.
“If I can do that, it will be a positive step for me.
“I feel I’m progressing here. I’m 22 and still have a lot to learn in the game, I know that myself. There are different aspects of my game I can still improve on.
“People have seen that in me over the last two seasons. I want to finish strongly this season and then build again next season.
“If I’d had any doubt or negativity in my mind about where we are heading I would have left the contract for now.
“We’re looking up and the strength of character within the club is big so I’m sure we’ll be fine.”
Fraser came through the youth ranks at the Parkhead club, with his progress halted by a serious cruciate ligament injury he suffered in 2013 which kept him out for the best part of a year.
The right back feels his experience with the Parkhead club was a good grounding for his career and he added: “It is big in terms of how it influenced my development. Celtic are a massive club with all the best coaches, facilities and everything else. I learned the game tactically from a very young age, how to manage games.
“We went on trips abroad, playing against quality youth teams, so it is something that has made me the player I am.
“But on a smaller scale here at Ross County, the stadium, training ground and the coaching is comparable in quality for the size of club.
“Where Ross County is as a club, and what they have around them, is really good. It’s the right place for me at this stage in my career.”
Fraser is hopeful his side can inflict a first league defeat on Brendan Rodgers’ Hoops, who have already been crowned champions.
He said: “We know the quality they hold but we did well up to the last 10 minutes against them here last time. We just have to make sure we are at our best on the day and, hopefully, we can secure an important result.”
