Alfie Stewart on the Aberdeen talks which led to Caley Thistle loan return for remainder of season

Alfie Stewart convinced Aberdeen that Caley Thistle was the best place for him to continue to develop as he landed a loan deal extension.

The 19-year-old attacking midfielder secured his third successive loan period with the League One title chasers after being locked in talks over his future for the remainder of this season.

Having helped Inverness stay in League One last term, despite being docked 15 points after going into administration, he was back on an initial six-month loan until this month as Scott Kellacher’s team target promotion back to the Championship.

They sit three points behind leaders Stenhousemuir, but have two games in hand, starting away to East Fife next Tuesday.

Aberdeen, who sacked manager Jimmy Thelin on January 4, considered moving Stewart elsewhere for the closing five months of the campaign, but urging the Dons to keep him in a high-performing team going for gold won through.

Deal ‘came down to what I wanted’

Stewart, whose Pittodrie contract expires this summer, told The Press and Journal: “Inverness is where I always wanted to come back to, to finish this season.

“I went back to Aberdeen and, after a few conversations, it was sorted and I’m delighted to be back.

“There was talk of me maybe moving elsewhere, but it came down to what I wanted to do and there was no doubt I wanted to come back here.

“It was always in the back of my mind that we’re at the top end of League One, challenging for the title. I wanted to get back here, continue to enjoy it, and finish the season strongly.”

Including his loan spell last season, Stewart has made 41 appearances for the club, scoring six goals.

In 2024, Stewart had six months on loan at Peterhead, as the Blue Toon missed out on promotion to League One via the play-offs before coming up as champions the following season.

Spot-kick win after ‘being spooked’

On Tuesday, Stewart was part of an Inverness team which sent Championship title contenders Partick Thistle crashing out of the Challenge Cup on penalties. 

Logan Chalmers shot the Glasgow Jags in front before – for the second game running – ICT goalkeeper Ross Munro saved a penalty, this time from Kyle Turner.

Oscar MacIntyre’s first Caley Jags goal was followed up by a Billy Mckay strike to put the Highlanders ahead at half-time.

Thistle, who lost 2-0 in the league at Ross County on Friday, looked to have turned the tie around with goals from debutant defender Cale Loughrey and Alex Samuel, but Mckay netted late on to make it 3-3 and to secure a penalty shoot-out which ICT won 4-2.

Stewart felt the display showed that Inverness are going in the right direction as they seek to win promotion back to the Championship two years after going down.

He said: “In the first 20-25 minutes, we were a bit spooked when we got pinned back.

“We conceded the goal to go 1-0 down and, again, Ross Munro digs us out with his save and that gave us the boost we needed to respond.

‘Good enough’ for the Championship

“The game was about going out and enjoying it and we did that to go through in the end.

“After a couple of defeats lately, this gives everyone a boost before Saturday’s Scottish Cup tie at Spartans and then take that form into the league.

“Partick are obviously doing really well in the Championship, as we are in our league. It was a really good battle and we showed why we’re good enough to play at that level.

“We were a few weeks without a game, but then went to Cove on Saturday and got a point, again thanks to Rossco.”

Incidentally, Inverness and Partick have now drawn 3-3 on three occasions since February 2022 and they also shared six goals in September 2001.

Stewart ready for second Spartans tie

Saturday sees a return ticket to The Spartans for Stewart, but this time in Inverness colours and with a place in the last 16 of the Scottish Cup up for grabs.

He added: “I played at Spartans this season for the Aberdeen B team in the Challenge Cup group stages in November. 

“Although we played alright, we lost 5-2, after making a few bad mistakes.

“But I’m looking forward to going there and trying to get into the next round of the Scottish Cup.”

Dougie Samuel, who has managed Edinburgh-based Spartans since 2012, is the SPFL’s longest serving current boss.

His team, who have won the East of Scotland and Lowland Leagues, are now sitting eight points clear of East Kilbride at the top of League Two, having played one match more than Kilby.

They have lost only two of their last 14 games, while 2015 Scottish Cup winners Inverness are looking for their first win in 90 minutes since trouncing Dumbarton 9-0 in mid-December in the Challenge Cup, which was a club record victory.

[Source: Press and Journal]