Caley's trio of signings a boost for Brewster

Published on Friday 9 January 2009 21:02

INVERNESS Caledonian Thistle will look to put their Clydesdale Bank Premier League troubles aside when they try to book their place in the fifth round of the Homecoming Scottish Cup with a win over Partick Thistle – and they will be aided in that quest by a trio of signings last night.

Manager Craig Brewster snapped up Latvian trialist Pavels Mihadjuks, while Hibs pair Filipe Morais and Thierry Gatheussi finally put pen to paper after passing medicals.

Both are now fully signed Caley Thistle players until the end of the season, having secured their release from Hibs. They are also both free to play in today's Scottish Cup tie. Mihadjuks may present more of a problem as Graeme Bennett, the club's director of football, explained. "Although Pavels has signed, we were unfortunately unaware there is a four-hour time difference with Latvia. That means the final bits of paperwork will have to be tied up on the morning of the cup game if we are to have him available."

Brewster knows the visit of the Maryhill men could be the turning point of his side's season. A convincing victory over the First Division outfit would go some way to easing the pressure on Brewster, although the ramifications of a defeat probably are not worth thinking about.

Brewster said: "Obviously, the league is our priority but the Scottish Cup is definitely a tournament we want to progress in. We have got to put in the type of performance that justifies being in the next round."

However, Brewster will know his players are going to come up against a Partick side who will fancy their chances of causing a cup upset against the SPL strugglers.

He continued: "We know Partick will make it difficult for us. They have some good players that we will have to be aware of. Simon Donnelly is somebody who I played with at Dunfermline and I had Alan Archibald at Dundee United. I know they will be up for the match.

"Liam Buchanan and Gary Harkins have also been getting good press recently so we will have to be ready come tomorrow."

Brewster admits Caley's form in the first half of the season was not good enough, particularly at home where they have only won once out of 11 matches to date. However, he hopes the new year signals a massive turnaround in his side's fortunes.

Partick are hoping to repeat their 2006 feat of knocking the Inverness side out of the competition, although they will be without defender Ian Maxwell, midfielder Steven McKeown and on-loan Hibs striker Damon Gray through injury. On-loan forward Steven Lennon has not been given permission from Rangers to play.