Why confidence, experience and a new role are bringing the best out of Aberdeen loanee Alfie Bavidge at Caley Thistle

Alfie Bavidge believes his rising confidence is bringing out the best in him as he prepares to help Caley Thistle face Championship leaders Partick Thistle on Friday night.

The attacker, 20, showed his quality when he latched on to an inch-perfect pass from his Aberdeen loanee team-mate Alfie Stewart to put Inverness 2-1 ahead against Hearts at Tynecastle in Sunday’s Premier Sports Cup tie after ex-Dons midfielder Ryan Duncan had levelled.

Four goals in a disastrous closing 10 minutes saw last season’s Premiership runners-up rack up a 6-2 victory, which was harsh on the Highlanders, who were in League One just a few months ago.

Having come up to the Championship as champions, they have drawn their first two league games 0-0 against Dunfermline Athletic and Arbroath.

Bavidge, who signed a new Aberdeen deal in May, is back on loan with Scott Kellacher’s team, having scored 20 times last season to play a vital role in ICT’s promotion.

Bavidge is learning all the time

Having made just three starts on loan at Championship side Ayr United in 2024, Bavidge is delighted to be back in the division this season and is feeling positive after making six starts so far in all competitions.

He said: “I feel more confident, which is a massive thing for me.

“I play a lot better when I have a lot of confidence in myself, so just having that belief helps me be ready.

“I was quite young last time too (when at Ayr), but I’ve played a lot of games since then and learned so many things.

“Playing with the older lads here and working with (assistant boss and record club scorer) Billy Mckay has been really helpful for me, so I’ve gained a lot over the last few years and I’m still looking to gather more experience.”

‘Show of faith’ from Kellacher

Kellacher has handed Bavidge a more central attacking role in the opening weeks of the season after operating out wide last term.

Bavidge is just grateful to be handed a stage on which to shine.

He said: “That show of faith from the manager gives me that confidence and makes me want to go and repay that faith.

“I’m enjoying it. I played through the middle pretty much my whole life, it was only here that I started to play off the side.

“I loved that as well, you can’t ask for more than just being on the pitch.”

Looking to get off the mark in league

After a couple of goalless encounters, Bavidge is keen to follow on from scoring in Gorgie by finding the net against Thistle.

He added: “It’s two clean sheets in two league games, so I just need to do my job now!

“We have every bit of confidence that the goals will come, and I’ve got every bit of confidence that we will continue to keep clean sheets.

“That will obviously put us in a good place going forward.

“Clean sheets give you that platform to go and play.

“It can be tough when you go through a stage where you’re not really scoring, and it can play on your mind a bit, but the defenders have been really supportive.”

Can Inverness extend the home run?

Looking ahead to meeting a Partick side with two wins from two games, Bavidge backs Inverness to stand up to the challenge.

He said: “They’re a good all-round side, and they have scored goals and not conceded many, which usually puts you in a good place.

“We know we possess threats of our own and that we can hurt them, so we’ll prepare and then see how the game goes on Friday.

“We know it’s going to be tough, but we’re confident.”

Inverness are on a 24-match unbeaten home run, with Stenhousemuir the last visitors to leave the Highland capital with three points last August.

Bavidge will hope that tally hits 25 by the time the final whistle blows against Thistle.

He said: “The travel is never nice for other teams coming up, but we take pride in trying to make this place a fortress.

“That gives you a massive advantage in a really tough league. We know it’s tough when we go away to other teams, so we need to try and make it like that here too.”

[Source: Press and Journal]