Nathan Shaw made potential count with bold move to Caley Thistle

Nathan Shaw’s talent and work ethic always gave him the chance to make it in professional football – but he also deserves credit for backing himself by moving north to join Caley Thistle.

That’s the view of Ben McInerney, who was head of sports science while Shaw was coming through at Blackpool between 2018 and 2021.

He thinks the 22-year-old’s left-field switch to the Highlands raised eyebrows down south – but it is little surprise the fleet-footed winger is excelling for Inverness in the Championship.

After his time at Blackpool ended, Shaw spent a year with National League side AFC Fylde, before switching to the Caledonian Stadium.

And when ICT head coach Billy Dodds handed him a run of games, he repaid him – finishing the season as one of the most consistent performers in the division, with his five goals in his last eight league games helping push Inverness to the brink of the Premiership play-offs, where they missed out by just one victory.

‘Full-backs couldn’t deal’ with Shaw

Having helped the wide player develop at Blackpool – narrowly missing working with him again when he himself joined AFC Fylde – McInerney was never in any doubt about Shaw’s potential.

He said: “At Blackpool, Nathan was a quiet lad. Although he was within himself, he still had confidence and belief in his ability.

“If I was to use one word to describe him it would be ‘fluid’. He was lovely on the eye and could take the ball down the left or right.

“We played a 3-5-2 system at the time, and he was a wing-back. It didn’t matter whether he played on the left of the right. The full-backs couldn’t deal with him because he was equally good with either foot.

“Unfortunately, he never really got the chance at Blackpool.

“He got a pro deal and made a couple of first-team appearances, but they were in friendlies and the like.

“Even then, you could see he had something, but he was never given the run of games.

“I would give Nathan targets to hit and, although he was quiet, he got on with everything to a professional degree.

“If he was told to do gym work, he’d go into the gym and do exactly what is asked of him.”

North move worked a treat for Shaw

Ten goals in 44 appearances so far for Caley Jags is a more than decent return for Shaw, who still has 12 months left on his contract.

McInerney revealed he was initially caught off-guard by the winger’s decision to flit to the north of Scotland, but reckons it’s a great example of a young player sticking their neck out in order to make their way in the game.

He said: “I was coming into Fylde and was looking forward to working with a familiar face, but then I heard he was moving to Caley Thistle – I wondered whether he could have moved any further.

“That’s all credit to Nathan that he was prepared to move somewhere which is quite remote.

“He’s a Blackburn lad, so Inverness is quite different to what he’s used to, but it showed he wanted to challenge himself. He backed himself that he could do it, by moving out of his comfort zone.

“It doesn’t matter where it is, you have to allow these young lads to play football and that’s all Nathan was wanting.

“It’s great he’s been given the opportunity at Caley Thistle and he’s taking it. I’d recommend a move like this to most players his age.”

‘You can put Nathan anywhere’

McInerney noted Shaw was played in a different role by Dodds in the 3-1 defeat against Celtic in the Scottish Cup final this month, but he feels his ability always makes him an asset wherever he’s asked to do a job.

He added: “I saw that Nathan played as a nine against Celtic in the Scottish Cup final – that threw me = although technically he can do it.

“You can put Nathan anywhere and Nathan is technically good enough, and with good height, to be effective – and he’s intelligent as well.”