Alfie Bavidge plans to stick to Aberdeen’s message while going for goals with Championship side Caley Thistle
Forward Bavidge, 20, is back on loan with Inverness for the 2026-27 season, but he could return to his club Aberdeen at the midway point should he impress again in the Highlands.
Alfie Bavidge says continuing to turn on the style for Caley Thistle is the message he plans to stick to from his parent club Aberdeen.
The 20-year-old Dons academy graduate was loaned back to Inverness on Friday for a third spell, fresh from earning a new one-year contract from manager Stephen Robinson.
After scoring 20 goals in all competitions for last season’s League One champions, the Dons feel that he will nudge closer to first-team contention at Pittodrie if he can take that scoring touch into the Championship.
His Dons team-mate Alfie Stewart, 19, who was also wanted again on loan by Inverness, will be with Aberdeen on their week-long warm-weather training camp in the Netherlands this week as he gets a chance to impress Robinson.
‘Incentive’ to impress Aberdeen
Bavidge can be recalled by the Dons during the winter transfer window, but he explained that he plans to focus on delivering first and foremost for the Highlanders.
He said: “There’s a lot of quality in the (Inverness) dressing room and we back ourselves. But we’re just going to take it one game at a time and play it.
“For me, it was good to get a few pre-season sessions with Aberdeen, but it’s also good to return here and get integrated in the team again.
“The message from Aberdeen is to come here and focus on playing for Inverness first of all, but there is the incentive back at Aberdeen for me as well.
“I just want to go out and enjoy my football, like I did last season. That’s what will be in my head for the season ahead.”
Caley Thistle are ‘work in progress’
Bavidge came off the bench in Saturday’s 3-1 friendly win across the city against Breedon Highland League side Clachnacuddin.
With the club back in the Championship for the first time in three seasons, the forward said everyone is preparing to raise the levels to be competitive in Scottish football’s second tier.
He added: “It was good to be back on the park on Saturday. It’s always enjoyable playing your first game back, as hard as it can be.
“It’s early days, but the squad is looking good right now. We had a really tight group last season and I’m sure it will be the same again this year.
“We know this season will be tougher than last season. We’re going to have to work even harder to have a chance.
“It’s good Inverness are back in the Championship, which is the level they should at least be at.
“It’s work in progress following on from the progress this club has made over the past couple of years.”
Caley Thistle play a closed-door game in Glasgow this Tuesday against Welsh champions The New Saints before hosting Ross County on Saturday in their next pre-season encounter.
[Source: Press and Journal]
