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Tade makes earlier than expected return


By Graham Linton



Caley Thistle manager Terry Butcher
Caley Thistle manager Terry Butcher

The Frenchman, a summer signing at Inverness after being released by Raith Rovers, has missed a large part of pre-season with an injury to his Achilles.

The problem was expected to sideline Tade for the beginning of the new campaign this weekend, but the 24-year-old forward is set to be included in a Caley Thistle squad that travels to Buckie Thistle tonight for a testimonial match.

Should he prove his fitness at Victoria Park this evening, Tade, who remained in Inverness to receive treatment for the injury while the Highland Capital club were in England last week, could force his way into the reckoning for Saturday’s SPL opener against Motherwell at Fir Park.

“Gregory has come on really well and he’s just desperate to play,” said Butcher. “It’s a shame he missed the trip to England because he’s a real character and would have loved it.

“We will take it cautiously with him and see how it goes at Buckie, but it’s certainly a positive step and hopefully his Achilles will stand up to the test.”

Fellow new arrival Billy McKay and Shane Sutherland have both recovered from injury and will go to Buckie, but Butcher confirmed it will be a squad predominantly made up of youngsters as he gives his more senior players a well-earned rest following their exertions south of the border.

Caley Thistle finished their three-game trip to England with a 1-1 draw against Aldershot Town on Saturday — a result which meant they ended their sojourn unbeaten.

A 4-2 success over Yeovil Town was followed by a 2-2 stalemate with Bristol Rovers, much to the delight of Butcher who only made the journey with a squad of 19 players.

“A lot of the players were involved in all the games, but their fitness levels were exceptional,” he said. “We had such a small squad because of injury, yet we still showed up very well.

“It was a really committed showing from the players, but it needed to be because we wouldn’t have got the results we did if it hadn’t of been.

“They all worked very hard and already I can see a great deal of resolve within this squad.”

Butcher is still targeting three more new faces to add to his squad and was “working hard on that front” to possibly make signings before the visit to Motherwell.

He also conceded there was a possibility of more trialists arriving this week as he looks to bolster his squad. A defender, a central midfielder and a striker are high on the agenda.

One trialist who will not be signing for Caley Thistle, however, is midfielder Jamie Stevenson. The 27-year-old featured in the matches against Yeovil and Aldershot, but Butcher has decided not to take his interest in the former Airdrie United player any further.

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