Ross County’s Josh Reid on his ‘terrible 10 months’ on the sidelines
The 23-year-old full-back is determined to help the Staggies remain in the Championship after making his first County start since December 2024.
Josh Reid admits he’s endured a “terrible 10 months” after suffering a hamstring injury – now helping keep Ross County up is his top goal.
The 23-year-old full-back/midfielder made his first Staggies start since December 2024 in Saturday’s 0-0 Championship draw at third-top Arbroath.
The point lifted the Highlanders above Airdrieonians at the bottom of the table with eight games remaining.
A first half red card for on-loan Preston North End defender Kaedyn Kamara and one with 10 minutes to go for midfielder Ross Docherty meant County had to dig deep for a result.
For academy graduate Reid, who was handed his debut by Stuart Kettlewell in the Premiership as a 17-year-old in 2020, being given the nod meant so much.
‘I’ve been itching to play’
After spending last season on loan in the Championship with Partick Thistle, he suffered a hamstring injury last April, which led to surgery and then was rocked by a setback in the winter, which delayed his return.
Speaking just after helping County secure what could be a big point, he said: “It has been a terrible 10 months. I had hamstring surgery last May and I came back in November and got injured again.
“My last start was 320 days ago (for Partick on loan), so I was absolutely buzzing, especially to also keep a clean sheet.
“It has been tough for me watching all year long when I’ve been itching to play.
“It felt really good to be back out there.
“The boys have been first class. A few of us have been out long-term – me, Andrew Macleod and Noah Chilvers. We have pushed one another on in the gym and we’ve been getting closer.
“I was back this weekend and Andrew’s on his way back. Noah will be back in the next two weeks, so we’ve all pushed ourselves.
“It has been tough. We all want to be playing football. That’s our jobs.
“We got into footy because we love it. When you can’t do something you love for 10 months, it’s tough.”
Full focus now on St Johnstone trip
Reid, who moved to Coventry City in 2021 before returning north two years later, spoke emotionally about what it means to have the chance to help his local team avoid a second successive relegation.
He said: “Ross County is my club. I love Ross County and this is where I’m from.
“I was on loan last year and then the last 10 months have been tough for the club.
“Hopefully I can help make an impact in the last eight games. We’re all in this together and we’re more than capable of getting ourselves out of the position we’re in.
“It’s so tight, with just five points between sixth and 10th.
“If you can put a couple of wins together, you could move up to sixth, but a couple of losses means you’re back at the foot of the table.
“We are taking it game by game. Every game is big. We face top-of-the-league side St Johnstone away on Saturday and we’re taking each game as it comes.”
[Source: Press and Journal]
