Daniel MacKay admits there is a much better feeling at Inverness Caledonian Thistle now compared to his previous spells at the club.

The academy graduate has plenty of high points on the pitch in his past stints, becoming Caley Thistle’s youngest ever appearance maker and goalscorer, helping the club to Hampden Park on multiple occasions, and scoring in both the Scottish Cup semi final and final in 2023.

However, off the pitch Inverness were hurtling towards turmoil, eventually going into administration in October 2024 – almost 18 months after MacKay’s second stint with the club came to an end.

Now, having returned to the Highland capital in the summer to sign for a third time, the 25-year-old can feel a tangible difference in atmosphere around the club as they try to fight their way back to the top of Scottish football.

"I see a difference more externally than anything,” MacKay said.

"There was obviously a lot going on last time, and we never really knew the extent of it, but that's all gone away. Alan Savage has got the club running smoothly, and he has invested a lot of money in and around the stadium.

"When I left, a lot of stuff wasn't working, but now everything is functioning a lot better which makes it a lot easier when stuff looks good and feels better.

"As much as things were going wrong the last time I was here, there were good things as well. Now there just aren't as many negatives, and there's a much better feeling around the club.

"We're back in the Championship and winning games now, so it's definitely bringing the feel-good factor back where you want it to be. Obviously the goal is to get back to the Premiership, but we just have to take it step-by-step.

"Sometimes you have to build back up from the bottom, and that can be a good thing. That seems to be the case at the moment with the way the club is going."

MacKay came back to Caley Thistle with his career at a potential crossroads, having spent the last two years out injured.

Coming back home, the winger is trying to rebuild his career in something of a parallel to the club’s fortunes as a whole.

Returning to Inverness could have been as a backwards step, and there was an element of doubt in MacKay’s mind as to whether it was the right move, but he is desperate to get back to his best in a Caley Jags shirt.

"It's nice to know you're coming home, but then my girlfriend was down the road after moving down with me, so there are a lot of factors that go into it,” MacKay added.

"If there was something down the road, I might have taken it, but nobody came calling.

"I got given an opportunity to come back up the road, and I took it with two hands because they don't come around very often – especially when you've been out for two years.

"It was something I had to do for my career, or else who knows what would have happened.

"Obviously it's really good to be here when the club is in a better place, and not have to worry about things. There have always been difficult spells, but we obviously got to the Scottish Cup final too, so I have great memories too.

"I just want to have those good moments in my career again, and turn up in the biggest matches. Those big days keep you going in football, so hopefully I can have a few more of those moments, and if they happen in an Inverness jersey that would be brilliant."