Ross County manager Stuart Kettlewell has urged teenage left-back Josh Reid to make the most of his first-team opportunity with the Staggies.
Reid has been moved into the Staggies senior squad after his performances for the reserves and under-18s sides last season earned him a new deal at Victoria Park.
The 18-year-old is County’s only recognised left-back at present, following the departures of Sean Kelly and Richard Foster at the end of last season.
Although Kettlewell is in the market for a new left-back, the Staggies boss says Reid has a big chance to show what he can do in the meantime.
Kettlewell said: “One of the areas we’ve been looking at is left-back, having lost three full-backs at the end of last season.
“We’ve got a young left-back at the football club we absolutely love and he is progressing well here.
“There’s an amazing opportunity for him as the only left-back in the first team squad at the minute. It is a brilliant opportunity for a young lad who stays five minutes from the ground.
“It makes it even sweeter that we have someone from the local area who is performing to the level he is.
“It falls on him to go and progress. He is only 18 but is showing up really well in the first team sessions so far.
“Much as I’m looking for someone else in that area, it’s not to say there won’t be an opportunity given to a young player.”
Kettlewell remains on the hunt for a new goalkeeper, with County having been linked with a loan move for Celtic’s Ross Doohan.
The County manager insists no deal has been agreed, however, he has been encouraged by talks as he looks to bolster his squad.
Kettlewell added: “There’s nothing to confirm. We’ve had a look at a couple of goalkeepers. We have an injury to young Ross Munro, who was out on loan to Raith Rovers last season.
“Ross Laidlaw is our only senior goalkeeper and we have a 16-year-old, Logan Ross, who has just come into the full-time environment and he’s performed really well. He has probably surpassed expectations.
“He’s been excellent after being pitched in at the deep end.
“I’m not prepared to confirm anything. We don’t have any deal done for any goalkeeper, although there have been positive talks on a couple of players in a couple of different areas.
“We’ll just see how that progresses over the next couple of days.”
The Staggies stepped up their preparations for the new season with a 2-2 draw against Aberdeen in a bounce game at Cormack Park on Saturday.
