The Inverness Courier is reporting today that Nick Ross is expected to sign an extended contract later on this week.

Delighted to hear this as Nick has been a revelation this season, he has improved so much since the start of the season and as i read somewhere at the weekend he is deservedly one of the first name names on the teamsheet.

It also mentions that a new deal has been offered to Shinnie and Butcher is "certainly optimistic on that front"

Link to follow once the Courier updates its website

Good news - he has been developing well considering the concern we were expressing about how well he would cope with the roughy toughys in the SPL as compared to the SFL. Quite well, as it turns out! Bags of skill, now just needs to gain the experience to go with it and you can only get that by playing games. And what a time to do it as well, with the team riding high. Add a Scotland call-up (and goal) and we have an excellent player in the making.

as promised linky

CALEY Thistle received a major boost yesterday with news that inspirational young midfielder Nick Ross is expected to sign a new contract this week.The 19-year-old has established himself as a first-team regular this season with a number of stand-out performances for the Highland Capital club, and he was man of the match in Saturday's landmark draw with Celtic at Parkhead.

His fine form led to him being capped at Scotland under-21 level earlier this month against Northern Ireland in a friendly and he marked his debut with a goal in a 3-1 triumph. Discussions between him and the club have been taking place over the last few weeks and it is understood that the youngster has agreed to prolong his stay beyond next summer.

The news will be welcomed by both the supporters and Inverness manager Terry Butcher, who has been hugely impressed by the way Ross has not only adapted to Scottish Premier League football, but flourished.

Initially utilised on the wing, Ross - a product of Caley Thistle's youth system - has proven himself more than adept at operating recently just behind striker Adam Rooney. He excelled against Celtic and Butcher now believes the challenge that lies ahead for Ross is to add goals to his overall game.

"We have done a little bit of work with Nick in terms of him playing in the middle, but he's just got a natural gift to play that role because he gets himself into the right place at the right time," he said.

"Nick has a great footballing brain and he instinctively knows what to do when he has the ball, or knows what run to make when he's not in possession.

"If I am being critical of him, and that is something that is very hard to be of a young player who bar 15 minutes has played every match for us this season, then it's that he doesn't get enough goals.

"However, the way he gets beyond the midfield and into good positions in and around the box then I'm sure we'll see him getting on the scoresheet a lot more very soon."

Butcher also confirmed that contract talks had started with fellow youngster Graeme Shinnie and that the left-back has been made an offer.

"We have spoken to his parents and we're certainly optimistic on that front," he added.

"I think that on Saturday he very much typified the spirit of the team in that he got caught trying to dribble the ball out for Celtic's second goal, but he showed great composure to come back and he'll certainly learn from it."

Caley Thistle go into Saturday's home match against Dundee United having stretched their unbeaten run to four games at Parkhead.

The poor weather conditions currently affecting the country, however, have already disrupted preparations.

"We're having to train at the football academy in Dingwall this week because of the snow," said Butcher. "It's not ideal because we would much prefer to be training on grass rather than indoors, but it will be the same for everybody.

"We also had a bounce game planned against St Johnstone this week as we hoped to give some players game time, but that will be off now."

Edited November 30, 201015 yr by Libero

There is actually a story on the official ICT page regarding Ross and Shinnie being offered deals

linky

DYNAMIC DUO SIGNING UP

Caley Thistle's 'grow your own' policy has paid off with Terry Butcher offering full professional contracts to

teenagers Nick Ross and Stuart Shinnie, two heroes in Saturday's draw at Celtic Park.

Both lads are products of the club's youth development system and have 'kicked on' impressively this season and now the club hope to have both tied up on new deals within days.

It's been an astonishing season for Ross, who was 19 last month and celebrated with a goal on his debut for Scotland

Under-21s against Northern Ireland at Firhill. He's been an ever present in the side. Aberdeen-born Shinnie, also 19,

has also made exciting progress with 10 starts so far this campaign.

"I've asked a lot of both youngsters but they have shown excellent talent, attitude and confidence at SFL level", says

manager Butcher."They fully deserve the offer of new extended contracts and after discussions with their parents, I am

very optimistic both will put pen to paper. It's gratifying to see young players progress this way and Nick and Graeme

have very bright futures if they cotninue to apply themselves as they have been doing.

Great stuff.

What rocket on here said that he only got praise because people knew his family?

Ross is getting better every week and from what i've seen his best performances have come in the centre of the park. I wasn't convinced about him at the start of the season and felt that he was only in the team because Foran was injured but he's rightly earned himself a starting place ahead of Odhiambo and showed why with brilliant displays against United and Celtic. Hopefully this contract will keep him at ICT for a good few years to come.

Incredible as to how composed he is on the ball considering how young he is. Hopefully the club can keep him on the books for a good few years

Hopefuly Nicky Ross will sign a new contract soon. He's a really good player and would be good news if he did. He will maybe move on in the future but I think he's a bit young yet.

The Foran-Ross-Hayes triangle is really looking something special. The best is yet to come too!

The Foran-Ross-Hayes triangle is really looking something special. The best is yet to come too!

The Irish Musketeers! Foran certainly proved many of us wrong on Saturday.

The Foran-Ross-Hayes triangle is really looking something special. The best is yet to come too!

The Irish Musketeers! Foran certainly proved many of us wrong on Saturday.

Nick Ross isn't Irish .

Edited November 30, 201015 yr by DALNEIGHCALEY

He's the d'Artagnan.

Talking of musketeers....when you think of the book/film of Alexander Dumas, how do you imagine them fighting?

It's with swords, isn't it? And yet...

Musketeers. MUSKET-eers.

Surely then, they should be gunners

Ok, here goes....the Musket came in to being in the early 1600's and getting caught up in the hype of the new weapon the French formed a new Kings Regiment (Bodyguards), named them after and issued them with Muskets. Les Mousquetaires du Roi, to give them their proper title, quickly came to realise that the Musket was useless for the job they were performing, and although the name stuck, they quickly resorted to using the far more efficient and effective sword.

Oh right.

Who has been doubting Foran by the way. Injured from last season, missed most of preseason, did about 10 days training, came back in a friendly, got injured again, had to have operation, did about 10 days training again and back into the team. Takes players time to get back to their best - and that means games. Leave out your inspirational captain, naw get him on the pitch and his enthusiasm, experience, skill and grit overcomes his lack of sharpness, which is now there. Legend of a player, and will be here as long as Terry and Mo are

Who has been doubting Foran by the way. Injured from last season, missed most of preseason, did about 10 days training, came back in a friendly, got injured again, had to have operation, did about 10 days training again and back into the team. Takes players time to get back to their best - and that means games. Leave out your inspirational captain, naw get him on the pitch and his enthusiasm, experience, skill and grit overcomes his lack of sharpness, which is now there. Legend of a player, and will be here as long as Terry and Mo are

Whilst your defence of Foran is admirable I see nothing mentioned on this thread that suggests anybody has been doubting him. The only reference to Foran is where Stan suggests Ross made the starting eleven because of Richies injury. Thats fair comment.

The thread is intended to highlight the contribution of Nick Ross and his impending new contract and has nothing to to with anyone doubting Foran.

Who has been doubting Foran by the way.

Where on earth are you getting this from?

A.N.Other poster creditted Nick getting a start to Foran's absence through injury which is on the money and Nick's performances have seen him maintain his place in the starting line-up. No-one was being critical of Foran, on this thread at least.

Confirmed that Nick has now signed a 2? year deal

http://caleythistleonline.com/3013-nick-nabbed

Great news

Brilliant!

Deligted to see the club being so proactive in securing one of the brightest young talents at the club on what is a long contract by our standards.

Now to get Rooney signed up

Edited December 2, 201015 yr by Libero

Great news looks to have secured his first team place by merit. Great prospect.

Our local boy done good - Well done, Nick. Wishing you great success in your football career - be it with ICT or "bigger" teams in the future. Best wishes always from everyone in the ICT Supporters Club. We are, and will always be, your greatest fans!

Great news

Great news.