Man from Madrid eager to return to winning ways in Highland derby

The Spanish shotstopper savoured three victories in Inverness but came a cropper as County famously "burst Caley Thistle's beach ball", as then-manager Derek Adams put it, on the last day of the campaign.

The 1-0 Dingwall defeat wrecked Inverness hopes of European qualification.

Reguero, who left Caley Thistle for an ill-starred season with Kilmarnock, has reclaimed the number one jersey at County in recent weeks - and was outstanding in the 0-0 draw at Celtic Park.

Now he wants to recapture winning ways in the big north fixture.

The 32-year-old ex-Real Madrid youth said: "I played in five derby matches for Inverness and we enjoyed some good victories.

"But the most important game was on the last day of the season and Ross County beat us 1-0. The other matches we had one with the exception of a draw in the Scottish Cup.

"So I know what it feels like to be on the winning side and also the losing side, and can tell you which feels better!

"In every derby, be it Real Madrid against Barcelona, Celtic against Rangers or Caley Thistle against Ross County, anything can happen. It can be any result, so we must just give our all.

"I didn't play against Caley Thistle with Kilmarnock so, if picked for this one, it will be my first game against them. "There is always pressure, but it won't be strange - I'm playing for Ross County now and I'm really happy in my football at the moment. "I'm comfortable playing against my old team-mates. The majority of players I played with are still there. In the first eleven, maybe six or seven are still there and I'm in contact with them sometimes, so it will be good."

Reguero recalls there being a special bond in the Inverness dressing room - but one he sees mirrored now at Ross County.

He said: "One of the main reasons Inverness have done well is they have been playing together for three or four years. They're a compact team. "I remember the great atmosphere in the dressing room. There are good people at the club. "It is almost the same here. We have a really good dressing room and a few new players who are maybe still working out how to play as a team. "If I'm to compare the Highland clubs, they are quite similar - and both have always treated me very well."

There was no questioning just how much Ross County gave at Celtic Park where a wonderfully spirited display with backs against the wall brought a valuable point.

Reguero admitted the County players had been pumped up with anger at their own recent shortcomings.

He said: "We were disappointed about the result against Hamilton, but I have to say the opposite now. "Getting a point on Saturday was really good for everyone. We played very well as a team at Celtic and were ruthless, so I'm happy about it.

"It was a great point for so many reasons. It's very good for our confidence. "We also kept a clean sheet, so the next step is to start looking forward and try to get every point we can in January. The derby is no different in that regard.

"There are some hard, important games for us in the next month."

Reguero spent most of August as first choice ahead of team-mate Mark Brown but lost his place in September.

But a recall came at Motherwell in mid-December and the Caley Thistle clash should continue his run in favour.

The keeper stressed: "Every clean sheet is good for a keeper, but particularly at Celtic Park. "It was my first clean sheet of the season, which is really important for me as well as the team.

"I'm enjoying being back in the team, enjoying it a lot. When I was dropped, in my mind there was was just one thing - getting the number one jersey back again. "I was trying to work hard in that time, and I just have to keep going. Nothing changes. I have to keep working hard."