Declan Drysdale has signed for Ross County on loan from Coventry City until the end of the season.
Drysdale joins fellow Sky Blues loanee Jack Burroughs in Dingwall, and adds some much needed depth at centre back in Malky Mackay’s squad.
Player Profile
Name: Declan Drysdale
Nationality: English
Parent club: Coventry City
Age: 22
Position: Centre Back
Height: 6’4 (196cm)
Preferred foot: Right
Last season, Drysdale enjoyed two productive loan spells. He spent the first half of the campaign in League One with Gillingham, making ten appearances. The 22-year-old was recalled in January and spent the remainder of 2020/21 with Cambridge United in League Two. He turned out 13 times for the U’s, and his contributions helped them secure automatic promotion.
On his return to Coventry however, Drysdale struggled for minutes despite his clear talent. He has been frozen out of their matchday squads for Championship matches, and his only appearance of the season thus far came in the EFL Cup against Northampton, where he completed 90 minutes in a 2-1 away defeat.
Declan is likely looking to bring more than just depth to this County side, and will be itching to have minutes under his belt and be firmly established by the time Alex Iacovitti and Keith Watson are back to full fitness from recent knocks. He’ll also have fellow 22-year-old Tom Grivosti to compete with for a place, with the Scouser having just returned to Dingwall following a loan spell at Elgin City. Grivosti has no shortage of talent, and has only been out of the squad due to long term misfortune on the injury front, so Drysdale has his work cut out to earn a place. This competition can only be a good thing for Mackay and his coaching team.
There doesn’t seem to be anything contractual or set in stone- but it’s interesting to see more business between Ross County and Coventry City. In the last 18 months Jack Burroughs and Josh Reid have been involved in deals between the clubs. This third collaboration suggests that Mackay is following through on his interest in partnerships with English teams, having cited Dundee United and Fulham’s partnership as something he wants to emulate in the future.
With a centre back coming through the door, the Staggies have filled in a position many would point to as their weakest. Especially after the departure of Coll Donaldson on loan to Dunfermline, Drysdale is a very welcome addition to the County ranks.
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