Don Cowie hails loan star Nohan Kenneh as Ross County ramp up revival

Don Cowie is delighted with the role on-loan Hibernian midfielder Nohan Kenneh has played in Ross County’s eye-catching recent revival.

The Staggies have taken 10 points from their last four games, a run that has included three successive away wins for the first time in their history.

Combative midfielder Kenneh, who had a spell on loan with the Dingwall club under Malky Mackay in the second half of the 2022-23 campaign, returned to County on New Year’s Day and was pitched in immediately, playing from the start in victories over Aberdeen at Pittodrie and Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.

“As assistant manager when he was here the first spell, I was really keen to get Nohan back,” said manager Cowie. “He’s totally different to the other midfielders we’ve got.

“He’s got a real physical presence in that area. He’s chomping at the bit, he had no football at Hibs this season, so he was really keen to come.

“I think everyone can see the impact he’s had in two really difficult games away from home where you’ve got to dig deep and put your body on the line.

“He epitomised that in the last two games.”

Cowie could hand a debut to Kieran Phillips in Saturday’s match at home to Celtic after the 24-year-old English forward joined from Huddersfield on a two-and-a-half-year contract earlier this week.

“Kieran comes here on the back of a really good loan spell in America (with Sacramento Republic last year),” said Cowie. “He’s mobile, he’s got pace, looking to run in behind.

“He was someone we looked at in the summer, but he was in America, so we just had to be patient.

“Obviously, with Alex Samuel getting a bad injury, we lost a body in the front line. As soon as the window came, it was about getting someone in and Kieran was available, so we’re delighted he’s here.”

Phillips is unlikely to be the last new arrival of the transfer window as Cowie looks to replenish a squad depleted by injuries to Ryan Leak, Aidan Denholm, Eli Campbell and Alex Samuel in recent weeks.

“We’re always looking,” he said. “We want to get better, we want to strengthen. We’re a bit light right now in terms of the squad.”

Cowie admits it will be a tall order for his 10th-placed side to extend their four-game unbeaten run against a Celtic side who scored a late winner to triumph 2-1 on their last visit to Dingwall in October.

“The boys are in a really good place and feeling confident,” he said. “The challenge now is to maintain it but the challenge doesn’t come any bigger than Celtic coming here.

“You’ve always got to expect the best version of them. When it’s the best version, they’re the best team in the country easily.

“We’ve got to be ready for that, but at the same time, we’ve got to be ready if they’re not at their best and try and take advantage of that.”