Ex-Fulham academy defender and towering forward are given chances to earn deals with Caley Thistle

Caley Thistle will continue to run the rule over three trialists as manager Scott Kellacher revealed the key areas he wants to strengthen.

The League One champions are preparing to return to the Championship for the first time in three years and the boss has signed four players so far.

Aberdeen captain Graeme Shinnie, Livingston winger Liam Sole and left-back Nou Boutin, who has just left Bournemouth, all signed permanent deals with Inverness.

Swansea City forward Morgan Bates, 19, also joined Inverness on a season-long loan this week, but there are more targets in mind.

Former Caley Jags winger Daniel Mackay, 6ft 6in former QPR and Maidstone forward Hamzad Kargbo, 24, and Fulham defender Joe Walters, 17, all played as trialists in Tuesday night’s 3-1 pre-season win at Breedon Highland League hosts Nairn County.

Kargbo scored the first ICT goal, with Paul Allan and Luis Longstaff also on the scoresheet ahead of this weekend’s game at Clachnacuddin.

Inverness-born Mackay, 25, who came through the youth system at ICT, has twice played for his hometown side, proving to be a regular game-changer and scorer.

His past two seasons have been with Championship club Partick Thistle, who finished as runners-up to St Johnstone and were Premiership play-off finalists last month.

Striker Hamzad Kargbo ‘offers something different’

Sidelined by a series of injuries, Mackay’s last competitive game was in July 2024, but – as he recently told The Press and Journal – he’s been fit and available for several months and he’s in the running for a potential contract offer if all goes to plan.

Kellacher said: “I knew Dan has had a few tough years. I asked him to come in and see how he gets on over the next while and we will take it from there.

“Listen, we all know what Dan can offer.

“He’s been fit for a while, and it was tough for him to get into that Partick Thistle team towards the end of the season because they had their flow of the team.

“It’s good to have him in. We don’t want to push him too hard.

“We’re looking at another couple of trialists as well as Dan.

“There was something about the big man (Hamzad Kargbo). He offers something different in that he can hold the ball in, and he took his goal well at Nairn.

“He could have had a few more, but that’s what happens when it’s your first game and you haven’t played in a while.

“You start off a bit rusty, but you soon get the legs moving, so we will see how he gets on over the next week to 10 days.

“We’ve brought a young boy in from Fulham (Joe Walters).

“He’s only been in for a couple of days, but he’s been great.

“It’s not easy to come in and get used to playing with players you’ve never played with.

“We will probably have a few more (trialists) coming in as well as the targets we’re looking at.”

Versatile defender is on Kellacher’s five-man wanted list

Kellacher confirmed exactly what he’s after as he continues to zone in on targets, while assessing trialists, with more to follow.

He said: “We’ve still got our targets. I’m trying to be a bit more patient this year.

“It’s not easy because I like to get my business done early.

“We’ve four or five to bring in.

“We’re looking at more strikers, more wingers and probably another defender, ideally someone who can play in a couple of positions.

“The example would be Mitch Robertson, who we had (initially on loan from Celtic). He could play centre-back for cover as well as full-back.

“Our back four is solid enough, but we just need to add to it. We need to have places up for grabs.”

Towering forward Kargbo emerged from the QPR academy and has also played for Southend United, Oxford City, Newport County, Chippenham and Maidstone.

Right-sided defender Walters is a free agent after leaving Fulham, having come through the academy at the London club.

Both players are expected to feature against Clach at Grant Street on Saturday as they aim to impress Kellacher.

Alonge deal offer ‘isn’t going to be there forever’

Kellacher, meanwhile, said attacker Jordan Alonge must make up his mind soon as the former Rothes and Forres Mechanics player considers a contract offer.

The 27-year-old played 42 times for Inverness in his debut campaign for the club, starting 21 times and scoring eight goals.

The manager said: “Jordan has been offered a new contract, but he’s taking his time to think about it.

“I explained to him last week that the deal isn’t going to be there forever.

“Jordan played a real part last season, so we will see how it plays out over the next week.”

[Source: Press and Journal]