19-year-old Ross MacLean has got off to a flying start this season at under-20s level, scoring and assisting on a regular basis for Stephen Craigan’s side.
The midfielder has found himself on the bench for the first-team a couple of times this season and made a brief appearance in the Betfred League Cup back in July.
But while he may not be a regular or well-known name around Fir Park, that could all change very soon.
Struggling at points with injury last year, MacLean’s development as a player is firmly back on track and the youngster admits he is hitting the peak of his career under manager Stephen Craigan.
“Playing under Craigan is great for a player at my stage,” Ross said; “he knows what he’s talking about, he knows exactly what he’s doing with the team and he does a lot to help us all out.”
He added: “That was reflected in our Scottish FA Youth Cup Cup win last year – he got us playing really well and that has been carried on in to this season too and it’s clear to see because we’re top of the league now.”
[pullquote]As a team we’re all doing really well this season – from winning the youth cup last season and now being top of the table – so our aim has to be to win the league this season.[/pullquote]
A pacey, agile player boasting a natural touch and finesse on the ball, MacLean himself admits that a spot in the first team may be on the horizon if he keeps improving the way he is at the rate he is too.
Watching the development of players like Chris Cadden is something that helps spur on and inspire Ross, with the first-team star sky-rocketing in the last nine months since stepping up to Mark McGhee’s side.
“The young players are all the same, they all want to play first team football and my taste of getting in to the team for the League Cup and then again in the league makes me want to push on and follow in the footsteps of guys like Chris Cadden” said Ross, referred to commonly as Chuckie throughout the club.
He added: “As a team we’re all doing really well this season – from winning the youth cup last season and now being top of the table – so our aim has to be to win the league this season and if we keep performing the way we are there’s no reason we can’t.”
“I’m feeling good personally too, I feel fit and sharp. I just came back from my injury last year and I feel as if I’m just back to my peak fitness now and that’s been reflecting in my game.”
[pullquote]He’s got all the attributes, and for him to take the next step he just has to be that little bit more careful with the ball. If you give away the ball three or four times in the first team it can impact the game more than it does at U20s level.[/pullquote]
His manager agrees, with Stephen Craigan confident that Ross isn’t far away from making the step up that is required.
He said: “Ross’ performance against Dundee United earlier this season is probably as good as it’s been for him and that’s including his performance against Hamilton when he scored both goals to win us the game.
“I always tell Ross that it’s the final thing that you do with the ball that people remember and in that sense he needs to work on that still – but he takes up great positions both offensively and defensively, the distances he covers at times is incredible and we can look at that through the GPS system.”
Craigan added: “He’s got all the attributes, and for him to take the next step he just has to be that little bit more careful with the ball. If you give away the ball three or four times in the first team it can impact the game more than it does at U20s level, but he’s made the bench at points for the first team, he was on the bench for the Lanarkshire Derby and I’m not sure how far away he was from getting a shot, but once he does there’s an opportunity there for him.”