Inverness Caledonian Thistle player hailed too good to be playing Highland League as they face Strathspey Thistle in the North of Scotland Cup quarter final
Head coach Scott Kellacher has hailed former Caley Thistle player Aaron Doran as too good to be playing in the Highland League.
He praised the midfielder who is set to go up against his former club on Wednesday night as Strathspey Thistle are set to travel to Caley Thistle for the North of Scotland Cup quarter final clash at the Sarens PSG Stadium on Wednesday night with kick-off at 7.30pm.
Doran has been part of the huge revival at Strathspey Thistle as they have got their Highland League campaign off to a stunning start.
He featured in the team which beat Deveronvale 3-0 at weekend and are currently in fifth place having won four of their first six matches of the season.
The club which finished second bottom in the league last season and finished bottom of the previous two campaign have become a different prospect this season.
Managed by former Caley Thistle goalkeeper Ryan Esson, Kellacher says his team will not be taking Strathspey Thistle lightly tomorrow night.
He is also delighted to see Doran back in action, believing he should still be playing at a higher level.
Kellacher said: “Strathspey Thistle have picked up a few good results and it is great to see them doing so well. Aaron Doran will be massive player for them and getting him back.
“He is too good for the Highland League and playing at that standard. We will put out a team that will hopefully that will win the game.”
Doran (34) was given a testimonial by Caley Thistle in July when they played Ross County.
Doran played 376 games and scored 53 goals for Inverness Caledonian Thistle during his time at the club between 2011 and 2024.
His time at Inverness Caledonian Thistle finished at the end of the 2023/24 campaign when he was one of a number of players who were released from their contracts as the club faced administration in October last year.
Doran joined Strathspey Thistle last season as a player/coach when Esson was appointed as a manager. He signed a new contract with Strathspey in May.
Inverness will be looking to bounce back from their first defeat in League One this season when they went down 2-1 to Stenhousemuir on Saturday.
Kellacher says the fact Inverness couldn’t take their chances last Saturday cost them.
“We will play worse in games and win.
“We were well on top and better at it. But that is not football. You need to put the ball in the back of the net and we didn’t do that today, they did and credit to them.