From Forres Mechanics to Inverness Caley Thistle in just three days is dream for Fort William teenager Ethan Cairns

ETHAN Cairns was playing for Forres Mechanics against Lossiemouth in the Highland League on Friday night. Three days later, he was coming on a substitute for Inverness Caledonian Thistle against Cove Rangers in the Championship helping his team to a 6-1 victory.

It was a whirlwind weekend for the 18-year-old striker, who was called back to his parent club along with Robbie Thompson from Clachnacuddin and Lewis Nicolson from Elgin City due to the injury crisis at Inverness.

The trio all came on at the same time with 10 minutes remaining against Cove Rangers, with Cairns making his debut in the Championship.

The Fort William teenager had previously played for Caley Thistle in the League Cup group stages against Albion Rovers.

But he says being called on to the pitch to play in a competitive league match was what he has always dreamt of doing.

"It's a dream since I started to come all the way up and you look up to players in the first team," he said.

"It was a bit surreal coming on to the pitch with boys I had been playing alongside with since I was 10. We all played in the same seven-a-side team."

Cairns was sent on loan to Forres Mechanics at the beginning of the season, where he made 19 appearances and scored four goals.

His final appearance for Forres was in the 0-0 draw with Lossiemouth last Friday at Mosset Park when Dodds put out an SOS for loan players to return.

Cairns enjoyed his time with Forres and felt he benefited from the loan.

But he knew returning to Inverness and making a contribution to the first team was an opportunity he could not turn down.

"I was told on Friday it was going to be my last game for Forres against Lossiemouth and then I was straight back in here," he said.

"I absolutely loved it at Forres, everybody there was brilliant and I felt that I was really coming along and got some really good results.

"But now I have to keep working and do what everyone is telling me to do and hopefully everything gets better."

Cairns joined the Inverness Caledonian Thistle Academy when he was nine and graduated to earn a full time contract.

He says being on the same pitch as players he watched from the stands growing up is something he wants to get more experience of doing.

"I had seen these players in training when we went down to see what they are doing,

"Then coming on and trying to help them out on the pitch was excellent.

"It's all about progressing."

Forres remain open to the prospect of Cairns returning to the club once the injury crisis at Inverness improves.

Cans manager Steven MacDonald added: "We were really pleased with him. We hope we'll get him back at some point in the future."