BOLT FROM BLUE
Inside rise of Scottish Premiership star who was SMALLEST player in his country and shared iconic moment with Usain Bolt
He previously played with Scotland's most expensive player too
THE smallest player in the country meets the fastest man in the world on the touchline.
Now this isn't the start of some regular old 'two men walked into a bar...' joke.
3
3
No, this in actual fact happened seven years ago in Australia and a current Scottish Premiership star was one of the said individuals.
As you can probably guess, he wasn't the quick one.
In 2018, many players in Australia were fortunate to have one of the world's biggest celebs as a team-mate.
Usain Bolt stunned the football and sporting world when he tried his luck on the pitch and joined Aussie outfit Central Coast Mariners on trial.
read more football stories
During that short stint he played alongside former Rangers youngster and Scotland international Ross McCormack who was his partner in attack.
And behind them in midfield was another familiar face.
Ross County star Josh Nisbet was also in the team as he made his breakthrough in senior football while Bolt was trying to get to grips with the professional game for the first time.
The now Staggies ace was already becoming a well-known name in his homeland despite his limited appearances - but not for his talents on the pitch.
Most read in Football
It was actually his short stature that had everyone talking.
Standing at 5ft 3in, many outlets including the Daily Mail and The Sydney Herald had labelled him the SMALLEST professional footballer in the country.
Usain Bolt scores twice for Central Coast Mariners after getting kicked in the balls in final trial game before A-League kicks off
His small frame didn't stop him from going toe-to-toe with the biggest and most physical stars of the A-League.
In fact he was actually a standout player for Mariners and he was named the best player in Australia when his club made history by clinching the league and cup double in the 2023/24 season.
He then left Australia last summer when that season concluded to test himself in Scotland.
And Nisbet, 25, has revealed that having the chance to prove his doubters wrong was one of the main reasons he chose Dingwall as his next destination.
Asked if the physicality of the Scottish game was a selling point for him, Nisbet told the Ross County TV: "It was probably the main factor. The physicality and duels over here is like no where else so I'm hoping I'm doing that (proving people wrong) now."
Nisbet also opened up on what it was like playing alongside Bolt at Mariners.
A famous photo showed the moment the eight-time Olympic gold medallist came off the bench to make his debut for the club in August 30, 2018.
3
Manager Mike Murley made several changes to his team in the second half of their pre-season clash against Central Coast Select which ended in a 6-1 win for his team.
Bolt was one of them and he was subbed on in a double change with Nisbet also entering the pitch at the same time.
Bolt towered over the young Aussie at the side of the pitch and pictures of the pair quickly went viral.
The arrival of the world's fastest man sent the media into a frenzy and things at Mariners were never the same until he called it a day in November.
Things at the club turned out very different with the superstar at the club but Nisbet has revealed he loved every minute of it.
"It was different," he said.
Read more on the Scottish Sun
"There was definitely a lot more media attention that we usually get.
"It was a cool experience and an experience not many people will ever get so I'm very thankful."
Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page