Ross County manager Jim McIntyre feels the promise of first-team football can help new signing Cameron Burgess thrive at Victoria Park.
Fulham defender Burgess yesterday joined County on loan until the end of the season, shortly after agreeing a new two-year contract with the English Championship side.
The Staggies were also boosted by the news fellow centre half Paul Quinn has renewed his contract until the summer, while attacker Michael Gardyne has also extended his loan from Dundee United by a further six months.
Burgess was born in Aberdeen but moved to Australia at the age of 11 and last year committed his international future to the Socceroos.
The 19-year-old played the first four games of the English Championship season for the Cottagers but has not featured since and McIntyre feels all parties will benefit from the move.
McIntyre said: “Cameron is a young lad who played the opening four games of the season for Fulham.
“He is 6ft 4in, a left-sided centre back, and he’s a youngster we think has a good chance. He comes highly recommended.
“He’s a big lad desperate for more first-team experience. We’ll give him the chance and the rest is up to him. We feel, and Fulham feel, it is a great platform for him coming here.”
The news comes as a timely boost for County ahead of Saturday’s crucial match against St Mirren, with whom they share the Premiership’s bottom spot.
The Staggies were left out of action last weekend when their match against Partick Thistle was postponed due to a power cut at Dingwall.
Winter storms have continued to affect the Highlands this week but, despite disruption to County’s training schedule, McIntyre is not concerned about his side’s preparation for the visit of the Buddies.
McIntyre said: “Obviously, the weather has had a big part in our preparations but every club in the country will be facing that. We’re fine.
“We’ve been training away and we’re very lucky we have the indoor facility on our doorstep.
“The pitch has taken some heavy downpours but I think since the club got the work done a year or two ago it has been in fantastic condition. The groundsman does a great job for us.
“I’ve no fears for the game. If there hadn’t been a powercut last weekend, the game would have been on.
“It’s just unfortunate what happened but we fully expect the game to go ahead.”