Derek Adams happy with Ross County defensive options

The 33-year-old centre-back left County this week to pursue a career outside of the game after realising he would be back-up to Scott Boyd and Brian McLean.

Munro had made six starts this season but Adams is content with his options at the back. Adams, whose team face Scottish Premiership strugglers Kilmarnock at Rugby Park today, said: “We have got good cover in that area.

“We have Steven Saunders, Brian McLean, (Branislav) Micic and Boyd, and (Mihael) Kovacevic and Ben Gordon as well. So we have good cover in the back four at this time. It was a difficult decision for Grant. You want to play football all the time. He has been given the opportunity to try to progress with a job elsewhere outside football.

“He has got another 30 years to work and he wants to get that done sooner rather than later.”

County travel to Kilmarnock full of confidence after beating Aberdeen before the international break. But Adams knows they will need to utilise that positivity against a side battling for their first win of the season.

“In the last six games we have taken ten points, that’s up with the top teams in the league,” Adams said. “We are happy with the progress we are making. We would like to go to Rugby Park and win the match and add to our points total. ”

Former County player Michael Gardyne insists he is loving life at Kilmarnock despite their poor start to the season.

The Dundee United striker joined Killie on a six-month loan deal in the summer in a bid to boost his chances of playing regular football when he returns to Tannadice. He already has several appearances under his belt and is pleased with the move so far, albeit his temporary employers have yet to taste victory since the rebranded Scottish Premiership was born.

Gardyne said: “It’s going well. I’ve started almost every game since I’ve been here. I’ve done okay and the boys have welcomed me. Everything is going well and I’m enjoying it.”

With St Mirren claiming their first win of the season against Hearts before the international break, Kilmarnock are now the only top-flight side without a victory so far.

Gardyne is well aware of how important back-to-back home games against County and bottom side Hearts could be in shaping Kilmarnock’s season. He said: “St Mirren did well to get their first win so it’s just us now. These next two games are massive so hopefully on Saturday we can get that first win. Every time you go out there, you want to win a game of football.

“I don’t think it’s playing on the boys’ minds but we are all in it together and we are desperate to get that first win of the season. I’ve seen the boys in training and I’ve got no doubts that, once we get that first win, we will kick on.

“The break has given us a chance to work on a few things shape-wise and with set-pieces. We are looking forward to the game on Saturday.”