Place of birth Inverness, Scotland Number 17 Name Nick Ross Height 1.75 m Career start 2009 | Playing position Years Team Role Football player Weight 64 kg | |
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Date of birth (1991-11-11) 11 November 1991 (age 24) Current team Dundee F.C. (#17 / Midfielder) | ||
Nick Ross (born 11 November 1991) is a Scottish professional football player who currently plays as an attacking midfielder for Scottish Premiership club Dundee. Ross has also previously played for Inverness Caledonian Thistle and the Scotland under-21 team.
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Inverness CT
Ross came through the youth ranks at Inverness Caledonian Thistle and ahead of the 2009–10 season, manager Terry Butcher stated Ross was among several youngsters selected for the first team squad. He made his debut for Inverness Caledonian Thistle in a match against Annan Athletic, as Inverness won 4–0 in the first round of the Scottish League Cup. His league debut came in a 0–0 draw against Ayr United on 15 August 2009. Ross then scored his first goal for the club against Greenock Morton, in a match Inverness won 1–0. Partly as a result of scoring his first goal, Ross's anticipated move to a club on loan was deferred. Days after scoring his first goal, he helped the club win the Inverness Cup after beating Clachnacuddin. Despite making only six appearances, he played a part in Inverness achieving promotion back to the Scottish Premier League.
He started more games for Inverness throughout the following season, putting in some good performances and becoming a first team regular. Ross was offered a new deal by the club and he signed a two-year contract. On 4 May 2011, Ross provided the 'assist' for the winning goal, from Shane Sutherland, in a 3–2 victory over Celtic. A week later, he scored his first SPL goal, a 20-yard volley in a match against Hibernian. He made thirty-four appearance, despite being sidelined twice through injury.
Ross found himself more on the bench in the 2011–12 season. Despite this, he scored his second SPL goal in a 3–1 loss against Dundee United in September 2011. Unfortunately, in late October, Ross was sidelined, when he sustained a groin injury. However, later in the campaign, on 17 February 2012, he scored his second goal of the season, in a 1–1 draw against Dunfermline Athletic.
Ross scored in the opening game of the 2012–13 season, a 1–1 draw against St. Mirren. He suffered a serious injury during a match against Celtic, dislocating his shoulder and eventually had to undergo an operation. Manager Butcher announced that Ross would be out for three months, which he described as a "massive blow". Whilst on the sidelines, Ross signed a new two-year contract with the club. He made his return, on 29 December 2012, when he came on as a late substitute for Billy McKay, in a 0–0 draw against St. Johnstone. Despite his successful return, Ross stated that he was working hard to improve his strength and fitness. Later in the season, he scored two goals in two games, netting against Celtic on 9 February 2013 and also against Kilmarnock, four days later. In April, Ross 'called' for the club to push on, and seal a Europa League place for the first time ever, but ultimately, Inverness narrowly missed out on that target.
Ross started his 2013–14 season with an 'assist' for Aaron Doran, in a 2–2 draw against Celtic on 24 August 2013. Following the departure of Terry Butcher, Ross scored his first goal of the season, in a 2–0 win over Hibernian on 9 November 2013. In the fourth round of Scottish Cup, Ross scored another, in a 4–0 win over Greenock Morton.
Then, in the semi-final of Scottish League Cup against Hearts, Ross came on as a substitute in the last few minutes and scored a dramatic equaliser, sending the match into extra-time. He then converted the fourth penalty in the subsequent penalty shoot-out, helping Inverness to win and reach the final.
A few weeks later, on 18 February 2014, Ross scored in a 2–0 win over Stranraer to send Inverness through to the next round of the Scottish Cup. He played in the final of the Scottish League Cup, when he came on as a substitute for Marley Watkins in the 80th minute. Ross then converted the fourth penalty in the penalty shoot-out, as Inverness CT lost 4–2 on penalties, after extra-time, against Aberdeen.
Ross was predominantly used as a substitute by new manager John Hughes. Despite this, he stated his desire to sign a new contract with the club and fight to regain his place in the team. Ross continued to be mainly used as a substitute in the 2014/15 season. One of those substitute appearances was in the 2015 Scottish Cup Final, in which Ross replaced Marley Watkins during time added on at the end of the match. At the end of the season, he left Inverness under freedom of contract.
Dundee
Ross signed a two-year contract with Dundee in June 2015.
International career
Ross was selected by the Scotland national under-21 football team in November 2010. He scored a goal on his debut in a win over Northern Ireland, but did not feature in the squad again.