IT is probably just as well Ryan Christie's mature adherence to parental guidance didn't extend to an unquestioning acceptance of secondary school careers advice.

Just four years ago, he sat in front of a careers officer at Millburn Academy, Inverness, and told them he wanted to kick a ball for a living.

Christie could not have met with more scepticism had he suggested lion-taming, brain surgery or deep- space exploration.

Luckily for him, his father Charlie - who had graced the northern game for more than two decades - recognised the talent in his toes that has lately attracted a steady traffic of top-level English scouts to the Highlands and brought the 20-year-old the Thistle Hotel Young Player of the Year Award as voted for by the Scottish Football Writers' Association.

Still, for young Ryan, there was a sage warning: get your Highers or you won't be signing professional terms with Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

"I remember when I was at school, you had a class where they asked you what you wanted to do in the future," he said. "I always used to say become a footballer, but the teacher never took me on. The answer was always 'yes, yes, but realistically, what do you want to do?' And I would still say I wanted to be a footballer because that's all I have ever wanted to do. Getting my grades at school was something I knew was important, but doing what I do now was always my plan.

"When I was coming through the youth ranks at Caley Thistle, my dad told me that if I didn't get good exam results then I'd be back to school for sixth year. I struggled with Maths and English, so had to get extra tutors, and scraped through. I got five Highers and have picked up another since."

Last season's first-team breakthrough came with a December debut under Terry Butcher and then there was progress under John Hughes, with Christie sparingly introduced to the rigours of top-flight football. His impact this season has been huge.

The Inverness-born attacker, who still lives with his parents, has now won three Under-21 international caps and can be bracketed comfortably alongside the likes of Sporting Lisbon's Ryan Gauld as one with potential to reach the highest level.

Would Christie senior, then, really have thwarted his chance to take that vital first step at his hometown club?

"I really think he would have followed through with not letting me sign if I had failed those Highers," Christie said. "He still jokes sometimes that he wished I'd gone to university rather than become a footballer. Even when I did sign here, I was still going to school one day a week to get another Higher. He wanted to make sure I got my grades and I realise it was for my own benefit.

"There are more and more young footballers making sure they get qualifications while they're playing. Look at Stuart Armstrong, who is doing a law degree. Looking at the future is definitely something people do more."

Dad's influence has been manifold. Across the kitchen table and on the training field as Caley Thistle's head of youth, he has nurtured a refreshing belief and desire in his son, tempered by a streak of level-headedness.

"My dad coached me from a young age and throughout the youths I didn't really think of the bigger picture," young Christie said. "I didn't see that he was helping me. I used to think 'this guy is always on my back' and look for a bit of sympathy. But looking back, I know he's improved me as a player.

"My mum is very supportive, too, and when I have a bad game I tend to head through to the kitchen with her, rather than the living room with my dad!"

There is no question that the heights achieved under Hughes this season in realising the dream of a first foray into European football would not have been possible without progress under Terry Butcher. But If there was one nagging criticism of the Butcher era, it was the mixed success in taking local youth products through to first-team level.

Christie hopes, and believes, Hughes' ethos will ensure he is only the first in a succession of Inverness lads to take the step successfully.

"The club has been working hard on bringing local boys through and it's nice if I can be the figure that people can look at and see getting into the team," he said. "The gaffer pulls the young lads into training with us every day and there's definitely a lot of talent there."

Of course, a Scottish Cup final triumph would top even Europa League qualification and make this a defining season in the 21-year-old club's history.

"What we've done for the city this season has been amazing," Christie said. "Maybe people outside of Inverness don't see it, but everyone is looking forward to the big day out at Hampden."