Paul Quinn is looking to make an instant impact at Ross County following his return to the club. Manager Jim McIntyre admitted Quinn was in contention for Sunday's League Cup semi-final against Celtic after rejoining the club from Aberdeen on Tuesday. Quinn has not played since coming on as a substitute for the Dons in their 2-2 draw with Inverness on Boxing Day, but McIntyre could utilise the defender's experience at Hampden. Quinn is eager to play if required and has already achieved success against the champions this season, scoring a late winner when Ronny Deila's side visited Pittodrie in September.
He said: "Anywhere you go you want to make (good) first impressions. I've played here but there's a lot of new eyes on Ross County this season. So hopefully I can bring something to the table soon, work hard to get in the team and prove it was the right decision to bring me back. If I decided to leave Aberdeen it was a straightforward decision where I was going. The hardest part was deciding whether it was right to leave or not. But the destination was never in question if the opportunity was there, and thankfully the manager and chairman gave me that opportunity. Myself and my wife decided to come back and we're grateful for that opportunity."
Gary Mackay-Steven does not think talk of a treble does Celtic any favours. They won the league and League Cup double under Ronny Deila last season, losing out to Inverness at the Scottish Cup semi-final stage. As talk of domestic treble begins to build again, with Celtic one step away from the chance of the first piece of silverware available, the wide-man insists delivery of all three major trophies is more difficult than the chatter suggests. He said: "It is easy saying we should win it but it is another thing actually doing it. The treble is such a hard thing to do. We came close last year but I don't think it does us any favours talking about it. At the start of the season you want to win every competition you are involved in. It is coming to the latter stages and this is where trophies get decided so it is definitely what we want to do but we will take it one game at a time. You have to be prepared every single game and there are no easy games, especially in this stage of the competition. We have a semi-final on Sunday and that is a massive game but Ross County will be tough."
Mackay-Steven, who signed along with fellow midfielder Stuart Armstrong from Dundee United on transfer deadline day a year ago, pinpointed Staggies midfielder Michael Gardyne as the main threat to the Hoops. Mackay-Steven went on: "They have been great. I know Michael Gardyne and a few of their boys. Michael has been in great form for them, he has become their all-time top scorer which is a great achievement for him. Having played with him at Dundee United I know what he is capable of. He will be a big threat to us but they have a few others as well and they have looked good all season. It won't be an easy game. Our minds will have to be right and we will need to put in a performance if we are going to get to the final."