Terry Butcher has hinted that he is interested in luring David Clarkson to Inverness Caledonian Thistle this summer, the striker having been released by Bristol City this month.
Butcher gave Clarkson his senior debut as a 17-year-old at Motherwell and may look to use that relationship to coax the Scotland cap to the Highlands.
Inverness have now ensured their place in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League for next season, and Butcher has turned his attention to how he will alter his squad for the next campaign. Ian Black is also a somewhat ambitious target with the midfielder due to leave Hearts in the summer, while Gregory Tade has been offered a new one-year contract and Jonny Hayes – a target for Aberdeen and Hibernian – is mulling a new two-year deal. Butcher is also eager to retain Ryan Esson, Billy McKay and Greg Tansey from his current squad.
"I would love these lads to stay, but I know there is interest from other teams," said the Inverness manager, whose side face St Mirren in Paisley this afternoon. "It would be fantastic to keep the bulk of the squad together but I'm a realist. I know that other clubs can double, sometimes treble, what we can offer."
His immediate concerns are with overcoming St Mirren, and Inverness have been heartened by the return of Andrew Shinnie following a foot injury. The midfielder is in line to make his first start since January in Paisley.
"My first goal was against them up here," said Shinnie. "That was the first game I really came into myself and I started to push on after that game. A similar result and another goal for me would be great."
He will have competition for prominence, though, given how well Kenny McLean has performed in the St Mirren midfield this season. He is on the shortlist to become the PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year, and also made his Scotland under-21 debut.
"My goal at the start of the season was just to get playing. I have done that and got the Scotland call-up which has been a bonus, and also the young player nomination," said McLean, who has made 31 appearances for the Paisley side this season. "If you had given me that at the start of the season I would have taken both your hands off."
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