Aberdeen transfer target branded 'victim of own success' by current boss after fresh speculation

Stuart Kettlewell woke up to headlines linking his first-choice striker with a move away from Ross County to Premiership rivals Aberdeen.

Stewart celebrates making it 1-0 during the Betfred Cup win over Celtic (Photo by Alan Harvey / SNS Group)

The Staggies boss admits he could have done without the distraction but has backed his frontman to stay focussed on firing County back onto the goal trail.

Reports claim Derek McInnes is set to make a bid to lure the Staggies striker to Aberdeen on a pre-contract deal with the 24-year-old out of contract next summer.

Stewart has scored six goals this term but five have come from penalties and the only strike he did manage in open play was against Championship outfit Arbroath in a Betfred Cup clash.

Ross County's Ross Stewart (L) holds off Celtic's Christopher Jullien during a Betfred Cup match between Celtic and Ross County at Celtic Park on November 29, 2020, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Craig Foy / SNS Group)

Asked if it was the last thing he needs, the Staggies boss said: "It is. But knowing the guy so well I know it doesn't throw Ross off track.

“We want him scoring in open play and he's desperate to find the back of the net.

“He's a victim of his own success, I suppose. He's done well this season and the stand out game was obviously at Parkhead in the Betfred Cup given how he led the line for us.

“I understand there's going to be speculation on his future. But fundamentally we have to try to get him hitting the back of the net here.

“We have a busy spell leading up to January and plenty of games to showcase what he's good at. Hopefully for us, that's hitting the back of the net.”

The next opportunity to do so is against Livingston on Wednesday in the quarter-final of the Betfred Cup after the Staggies eliminated Celtic last month.

There has been no bounce in the league form though and Kettlewell hopes to call in fresh recruits to boost his side after watching them sink to the bottom of the Premiership.

“It's safe to say we're looking at all options," he said. "Jason [Naismith] coming in next month gives us a real good quality player and if other options come up, not just in the striker position, then it's something we'll definitely look at.

“We have to improve our results, our goal-scoring, the number of goals we're conceding. All facets of the game we have to improve on as things stand.”

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