Scoring trialist Daniel Mackay impresses Caley Thistle boss, while Clachnacuddin manager points to fine margins

Caley Thistle boss Scott Kellacher praised Daniel Mackay after the winger scored in his second game as a trialist for his former club.

The 25-year-old ICT academy graduate has not played a competitive game for almost two years due to a series of injuries to his knee, hamstring (three times) and thigh (twice).

It meant he barely featured for Partick Thistle, who he joined from Hibernian in June 2024.

Mackay, who scored for ICT in the 2023 Scottish Cup final defeat against Celtic when on loan from Hibs, scored 17 goals in 97 Caley Thistle appearances since breaking through as a promising teenager in 2017 before moving to Hibs in 2021.

Mackay told The Press and Journal this month that had it not been for body movement specialist, or biomechanist, Dan Mitten, he might have quit the sport. 

Handed a trial last week by Kellacher, he played in the 3-1 friendly win at Breedon Highland League side Nairn County last Tuesday.

And he stepped off the bench to score the second goal in Saturday’s 3-1 win at Clachnacuddin, with Paul Allan and Shae Keogh netting the other ICT goals. Mikey Mackenzie levelled for the Lilywhites just after half-time.

Mackay back from a ‘lonely place’ after injury nightmare at Partick

Kellacher explained how Mackay is catching his eye in a bid to earn a permanent deal back home with the newly-returned Championship side.

He said: “The last two years have been hard going for Dan.

“The way he performed when he came on reminded me of the Dan Mackay of a few years ago.

“He wanted to beat players and get on the ball.

“It will take him a bit of time to get back to where he was at, but this is a good opportunity and that’s why we took him in.

“We wanted to see how he would get on and how much he pushes himself. Hopefully this will stand him in good stead going forward.

“He’s still on trial with us, so we will see what happens over the next wee while.

“It’s got to be right for both parties. He’s done well in training every day, so I’m delighted for him.

“He’s a local boy and when you’re out of the game for two years it can be a lonely place. It’s good to see him back playing and getting a goal as well.”

Two other trialists impress Kellacher

Mackay was one of three trialists on show for the second match running for ICT, along with former QPR and Maidstone forward Hamzad Kargbo, 24, and Fulham defender Joe Walters, 17.

Kellacher said: “I gave the boys game-time the other night and they got around another half an hour today.

“They will get their opportunity and they have been great. They all offer different options.

“We’ve got another two or three to come in on trial, so we can have a look as well as two or three signings.

Inverness to be Welsh champions’ pre-Champions League opponents

Caley Thistle have been invited to be opponents for The New Saints this Tuesday ahead of the Welsh champions’ Champions League qualifier against Azerbaijan Premier League champions Sabah FK on July 7.

Kellacher is delighted his League One winners have been picked as worthy warm-up opponents.

He added: “We move on to Tuesday. We have a game behind closed doors against TNS (The New Saints), the Welsh champions.

“They are preparing for a Champions League qualifier the following week. They want a hard game, so hopefully we can provide that.

“I want to build up the levels right. We then have Ross County and Cove Rangers before we start in the Premier Sports Cup against East Fife on July 11.

“Credit to Nairn County and Clach, who we played this week. They were both excellent.

“We want to build relationships with teams like these, and the likes of Brora Rangers, who have been flying.”

Gethins heartened by team’s display

Clachnacuddin manager Conor Gethins said there was plenty to be encouraged about in Saturday’s 3-1 friendly loss against Caley Thistle.

Gethins, who guided the Merkinchers to a fifth-place finish in last term’s Breedon Highland League, felt a killer touch when the teams were level could have swung the balance in the Merkinchers’ favour.

He said: “The first 70 minutes was my first team. The last 20 minutes was mainly 16- and 17-year-olds, who were relatively alright.

“The scoreline flattered Caley Thistle. We had the better chances and we worked really hard.

“Once we got to grips with the game, our shape was really good, and we looked a real threat when we got on the ball. We just need to be more clinical in one-on-ones.

“You won’t get three or four one-on-ones in a game. You might get one and you need to finish it.

“Ross Logan goes through on goal and he had loads of time. (Inverness second half goalkeeper) Logan Ross was actually on the ground, and he passed it into his hands.

“Just a wee bit of composure in the final third is all we lacked. Ross needs to finish those ones if he wants to be in the starting XI every week. He can do it but just needs to be a wee bit more consistent with it.

Clach ‘won’t admire’ Ross County

“It was an even contest. The gulf was there, but the work rate was there from us. I wasn’t looking at the scoreline. It was more about that first 70 minutes when we were really competitive.

“We should have led 2-1, but I think we finished the game with eight players aged 16, 17 or 18 on the park. It gives them a wee boost to get on and a feel for what it is.

“Their legs were dying after playing for 20 minutes because of the quality of players they were up against. If you want to be in the first team, you have to work on that.

“We play Ross County here on Tuesday, which will be another tough game. They have worked really hard in pre-season by all accounts.

“We will be brave and we won’t sit back and admire them.

“We won’t have a game this Saturday, so we will give the boys the weekend off, which is really unusual (for this time of year).”

[Source: Press and Journal]