Ross County manager Stuart Kettlewell has backed young pair Harry Paton and Tom Grivosti to play a key role for the Staggies this season.
Midfielder Paton and defender Grivosti both signed new deals at Victoria Park during the coronavirus shutdown, with their contracts having been due to expire this summer.
Kettlewell feels getting both players tied down on longer deals has been an aim for some time, and he feels Paton and Grivosti have already shown County’s supporters glimpses of their potential.
Kettlewell said: “I probably need to sing their praises highly. They’re two who are very well thought of here.
“I know our supporters are appreciative of them as well. You always get a feel for who your supporters buy into and these are two young, exciting players.
“We were delighted to get these new contracts tied down. It was ongoing prior to the Covid-19 situation and we’d been working away on that for an extended period of time.”
Canadian midfielder Paton, who has been capped for his country at under-20 level, broke into County’s first team last term after joining from Hearts in 2018.
Although he has yet to win a senior Canada cap, the 22-year-old was named in the provisional squad for the men’s Olympic qualifying championship earlier this year prior to its postponement.
Kettlewell says he has long admired Paton’s talents, adding: “Harry had periods last season where he was able to show his credentials and his quality.
“From within the football club, we’ve all had a real buzz about Paton for a long time, while knowing we had to get through stages in getting him to be a mainstay fixture in that number eight jersey in central midfield.
“His team-mates have always believed in him and myself and Steven Ferguson have always believed in him.
“The new coaching staff all wax lyrical about his capabilities and potential.”
Englishman Grivosti is sidelined with a long-term foot injury which has kept him out since a 4-0 defeat to Rangers last October, with Kettlewell determined to help the 21-year-old regain the form he had shown prior to the setback.
Grivosti has previously attracted interest from Ipswich Town and Rotherham United, and Kettlewell added: “Tom has the potential to go and play a lot of games at Ross County and show how good a player he is.
“He’s a different type of defender. He has that composure on the ball, composure beyond his years, and the ability to read a game.
“Again, he’s appreciated by his team-mates. He’s one we’re delighted to have. There was a bit of interest in him last summer and he tends to be one that a lot of clubs speak about.
“We felt he was probably going to kick on just prior to that injury.
“He’s in a good place. Physically he’s looking good and hopefully we can get him back on the pitch sometime soon.”
