Calum MacLeod on his ‘breakthrough season’ at Caley Thistle and playing alongside his childhood idols

Calum MacLeod feels much more at ease in the Caley Thistle first team dressing room after 22 starts in League One.

But the exceptional 19-year-old prospect admits he will probably never stop hero-worshipping childhood idols Billy Mckay and Danny Devine.

It was a big adjustment for the ICT youth product last season to rub shoulders with players he used to watch from the stands as a little boy.

Some 13 years on, consistent quality performances have made peers of his heroes.

The midfielder turned right-back was again at his energetic best, providing protection and threat in equal measure as he patrolled the right flank in an utterly dominant Inverness display that took them three points clear at the league summit.

It is fair to say MacLeod is loving every minute of it.

Those 22 starts in the league – 31 in all – stand in stark contrast to just seven league selections the previous season.

Shining light on the feelgood factor within the Highland dressing room, MacLeod said: “We’re getting loads of enjoyment out of matches this season as players. It’s such a good team, such a good squad the gaffer has put together.

“There is a mix of young, middle years and some older boys. Everyone is just enjoying it with their mates.

“Saturday was another one that I just really enjoyed playing in.

“It does feel like a breakthrough season for me, more than last season.

“I feel like this has been the year when I can really express myself as a player and come out of my comfort zone a wee bit.

“The manager has put a lot of faith in me, and I’m glad to have repaid him so far. I’ve come out of my shell a bit more.

“I was five or six years old, coming to games here and watching Danny Devine and Billy Mckay play, so it has taken me a little while.

“Danny and Billy are still right up there for me, as someone who used to sit in the stands, but I definitely feel much more a part of the team.”

Another step closer in title race

Caley Thistle can point to two clear reasons why they are not striding away miles above the rest this season.

Firstly, the five-point deduction for administration and, secondly, the uncharacteristic five-game slump suffered from mid-December to mid-January amid a spate of away games.

Nevertheless, performances like Saturday’s 3-0 win against East Fife underline the fact that, at their best, they are pretty much untouchable in the division.

MacLeod admitted: “It was comfortable, but we could, and should, have killed them off earlier, by being more ruthless.

“We had more than enough chances in the first half, but we acquitted ourselves well and got there in the end.

“When we get the first goal early, it changes the game. We saw that with Hamilton and Queen of the South.

“We can just dominate from there, without falling into any traps.

“It is definitely a boost to move clear again at the top.

“We’re happy with that and just want to keep building on it, but we’re just taking it game by game.

“Every win brings us a little closer to where we want to be.”

[Source: Press and Journal]