Ross County winger Michael Gardyne feels he has plenty more to offer after clocking up his 400th appearance for the Staggies.
Gardyne hit the milestone in Saturday’s 2-1 Premiership victory over Motherwell at Fir Park, having already set the records for most appearances and goals for the club.
Having first joined County on loan from Celtic in 2006 at the age of 20, Gardyne is now in his fourth separate stint with the Staggies.
Gardyne has twice helped County win the Championship title, while he also netted the opener in the Staggies’ League Cup final victory over Hibernian in 2016.
Although he will turn 34 in January, Gardyne feels he can continue to make a telling contribution for the Staggies.
Gardyne said: “It has been amazing since I first came here. We got relegated that first season I was on loan, but then I came back and won a couple of leagues.
“I have won a couple of cups, but lost the Scottish Cup final, while I had another relegation and another promotion.
“It has been a whirlwind. It has been amazing but I wouldn’t change anything about it. Even the last relegation, it made me come back stronger personally, and the team and club as a whole.
“It has been great personally for me throughout my whole career here, but it does feel like we are going places again with the co-managers in charge.
“I’m still playing and producing assists, although I need to chip in with a couple of goals. We are back in the Premiership after one season, and I definitely feel there’s more to go here.”
Gardyne has played the bulk of his football with County, with a further 71 career appearances coming between spells at Morton, Dundee United and Saturday’s opponents Kilmarnock.
Gardyne feels County have been an ideal fit for him, adding: “When I left to go to Dundee United the first season I had was good there before Jackie McNamara came in and it didn’t work.
“We played Falkirk in one of the cups and Peter Houston was the manager there. He was the one that signed me for Dundee United, and he actually said Ross County just suits me as a player and a person.
“I have obviously enjoyed my time up here, I have got the records for appearances and goals. To make 400 appearances for one club is something you don’t see very often, so I’m very proud.”
Gardyne reflects fondly on his season-long loan at Killie in 2013-14, where he made 22 appearances, and he added: “It’s a good club, with nice people as soon as you walk in the front doors.
“I had a great partnership with Kris Boyd up front, but he moaned if I did not pass to him. That sums up my season there. I think I only scored one goal, but that was the season he scored 22, and he says that I assisted 17 of them or something like that.”
