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Press and Journal
40 minutes ago
- Press and Journal
Don Cowie assesses Ross County's biggest Premier Sports Cup test - against league rivals Partick Thistle
Manager Don Cowie insists Saturday's must-win showdown with Partick Thistle will show how ready Ross County are for the Championship kick-off. Tuesday's rousing 8-0 rout over League Two visitors Edinburgh City in the Premier Sports Cup – on the back of last weekend's 1-0 win at Championship hosts Queen of the South – means County still have a chance of reaching the last 16. The back-to-back wins followed a 1-1 draw at League Two Stranraer, which ended in a penalty shoot-out defeat at Stair Park. Thistle have won all three of their ties, so have a two-point lead ahead of the weekend's Dingwall tie. The final Group B fixture comes exactly a week before County, relegated from the Premiership in May, kick off their league campaign at Airdrieonians. For four years running, Partick have reached the promotion play-offs but have yet to clinch their place back in the top-flight, following relegation in 2017-18. In 2023, County staged the most remarkable recovery to beat Partick in the play-off final on penalties, after the Glasgow team led by three goals. Now under the sole management of Mark Wilson, Jags fans will expect their side to again be in the promotion race. Cowie reckons that will be a multi-club chase for places in the Premiership. While beating Edinburgh City in such style was pleasing, Cowie knows only the best will do against Partick. He said: 'I think pretty much every team will be a play-off or a title contender because of how competitive the league is. 'We've seen that year after year and Partick have been really consistent to finish in the play-off for the last few years. 'It will be a good test to see where we are, and we'll have to temper Tuesday tonight. 'Edinburgh are a League Two team and now we're going to be facing a Championship team, so we'll see where we really are. 'It was great to get eight goals but Saturday is what really counts now. 'Like we said after the first game in the group, we gave ourselves a bit of a mountain to climb. 'We knew that but we also knew that winning the next three games would give us a real chance of finishing top. 'We've won two and that was always our aim. It will be a different quality of opposition on Saturday against Partick, but we're looking forward to it.' Saturday's win in Dumfries was County's first victory since March, with a major dip in form taking them out of the top-flight via a play-off final loss against Livingston. Cowie hopes his new-look side – with 11 new faces – can get used to winning to gather momentum when the league season gets going. He said: 'We want to build momentum to start the season well, and we want our new players to have that good feeling. 'Winning is a habit and last year it became a struggle at the end because we weren't winning, so we want to get into that mode and that habit again. 'The good sign (from Tuesday) was that even though it was 3-0 at half time, we didn't take our foot off the gas. We kept going and it finished 8-0, and that's the mentality we need to create. 'It would be important for us to get out of the group and finish top, and that's what we're aiming to do.' Defender Akil Wright, who played every Premiership minute for his side last term, sat out the goal feast against Edinburgh but he should be back to face Thistle. Returning midfielder Jamie Lindsay is set for his first County appearance since helping the club win the Championship in 2019. Cowie explained: 'Akil felt a little niggle from the weekend, so we thought it was best to be a bit cautious and leave him out on Tuesday and hope that means he is available for Saturday. 'It was good to see Dylan Smith playing in his natural position, and I thought he played really well too, so that was a real positive. 'Akil will hopefully be back, and I think Jamie Lindsay has a good chance. 'He has only just re-joined us, and he's keen and eager to be involved. I thought tonight was far too soon, but Saturday is still a few days away so I think that's realistic. 'Gary Mackay-Steven is back training with the squad, but I think it will be the first league game before he's back, and Connor Randall will be back with us then as well with the protocol (after a head knock).' Cowie underlined that recruiting another centre half remains a priority in the coming week or so after the early capture of ex-Dundee United defender Declan Gallagher.
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Napoli ready to hand Raheem Sterling transfer lifeline with Chelsea locked in talks over two MORE arrivals
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) RAHEEM Sterling could be offered a Chelsea escape route by Napoli. But the Italian champions, who already have former Premier League stars Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour on their books, want a loan deal for Sterling on similar terms to Arsenal last season. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Chelsea are desperate to find a permanent home for the ex-England man Credit: Getty And Chelsea have made it clear that they want to find a permanent move for the former England international. Juventus and Bayer Leverkusen are also interested in Sterling, 30, who has two years left on his £325,000-per-week contract with the Blues. Chelsea paid a significant proportion of the ex Manchester City winger's wages after he joined Arsenal in a last-minute deal last summer. There may have to be compromise on all sides if Sterling is to relaunch his career away from Stamford Bridge again this year.. Napoli have turned their attention to Sterling after being frustrated in their efforts to sign winger Dan Ndoye from Bologna. Ndoye is also a target for Nottingham Forest and Napoli are losing patience with their Serie A rivals. Napoli offer Sterling a great example of how a new start abroad can work for Premier League stars. Former Manchester United midfielder McTominay in particular has reinvented himself as a hero in Naples after playing a key role in last season's success. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK Meanwhile, in another frantic summer of coming and goings at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea are locked in talks with Ajax over teenage defender Jorrel Hato. The Blues are thought to have indicated they are prepared to pay around £35m for Hato, 19. Man Utd hunting Jackson as Chelsea's demands revealed | Transfers Exposed But Ajax say they want £50m, and former player Danny Blind, who is in his second stint on the club's supervisory board, has a history of playing hardball. Back in 2022, Blind negotiated a deal with Manchester United for Ajax defender Lisandro Martinez which saw United pay an initial fee of £48.3m, rising to £56.7m. Chelsea are said to be moving closer to a deal for RB Leipzig playmaker Xavi Simons. The Blues are yet to make a formal bid and Leipzig are said to be sticking to their £60m valuation of the Dutch international. But there is increasing confidence at Chelsea that a compromise will be reached and Simons will be added to the club's formidable array of attacking talent.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Hugo Ekitike's £79m arrival clears path for Liverpool forward to leave Anfield on loan as Arne Slot reshapes attack ahead of Premier League title defence
Liverpool will allow their Wales international forward Lewis Koumas to go out on loan again following the £79million signing of Hugo Ekitike. Koumas, 19, scored six times for Stoke City on loan last season and it's felt another spell of playing regularly away from Anfield would be best to aid his long-term development. The Championship is Koumas' likeliest destination for the second consecutive year but moves abroad or to the Premier League haven't been ruled out. Koumas is regarded highly by Liverpool and scored on his debut aged 18 against Southampton in 2024 in what is his only first-team appearance for the club to date. In addition to making 49 appearances for Stoke, Koumas has also won six caps for Wales, where his father Jason was part of the Noughties team alongside the likes of Craig Bellamy. Bellamy is now Wales manager and excited about the future for Koumas. 'He's one of those players who just, every time he has it, you feel like something's is going to happen. Something positive happens. Fearless.' Born in Liverpool, Koumas began his footballing journey in the Tranmere Rovers academy - the same club where his father started his career - before switching to Liverpool at a young age. His natural talent was quickly recognised, and he steadily rose through the ranks at Kirkby, often playing above his age group. The forward signed his first professional contract with Liverpool in January 2023 before penning a new long-term deal last August. He featured for 45 minutes in the Reds' 3-1 pre-season victory over Preston North End, but may not suit up again as the club look to loan him out again.
