Cameron O'Donnell makes 100 appearances for Alloa Athletic

The 22-year-old hit a century of appearances for the Wasps during the 0-0 draw away to Arbroath a couple weekends ago.

A product of Alloa’s youth academy, O’Donnell was given his chance under Peter Grant in 2019, becoming a mainstay of the team over the past five years.

“It’s a big achievement,” O’Donnell said. “I’m happy to finally get there – there’s been a lot of sub appearances.

“I was young when I first came through so chances to get in the team didn’t come very often but now that I’m playing more regularly, I’m delighted.

“I’m delighted, it’s a big achievement – I didn’t even know it was coming up, I saw it on X and it came around much quicker than I thought.

“My uncle sent me the post on X but I’m delighted to finally get 100, hopefully kick on and make many more.”

Naturally an attacking midfielder, O’Donnell’s time at Alloa has seen him play in a number of different positions to account for injuries and suspensions.

O’Donnell spent a couple of years filling in at left back while Alloa were short of bodies in that position.

While that wasn’t his natural position, O’Donnell insisted he was happy to play his part and help the team where he could.

He went on : “It’s not my preferred position but it was a time when we were struggling for cover at left back and the gaffer asked me if I could do a job there.

“I was more than happy to fill in and do a job anywhere, it’s not my preferred position but I’ll play wherever the gaffer asks and if he needs a job to be filled, I’ll do my best and try and fill in there."

Calum Waters’ arrival at the club has allowed for O’Donnell to be pushed higher up and play in midfield or on the wing, positions which suit him much better.

Andy Graham previously said that O’Donnell’s ability to be versatile and play in different positions will stand him in good stead going forward.

This has been seen this season as Alloa’s number 20 has been deployed across the full attacking line – on the left, the right and in behind the striker.

O’Donnell continued: “[The manager] played me as a number 10 today which is a position I’ve never played and I enjoyed it.

“It’s good to know that he feels he can put me in these different positions.

“[I’m happy with] Either of those three. On the left or in behind the striker or on the right, any of them, I don’t mind.

O’Donnell started and played the full 90 minutes of Alloa’s 2-2 draw with Inverness, popping up with a vital assist for Conor Sammon to open scoring.

From there, Alloa scored their second just three minutes later, causing the visitors to retreat and time waste, playing for a draw.

“I felt we were the better team throughout the whole game,” O’Donnell explained. “Their chances came from our mistakes so it was a frustrating one.

“The boys showed brilliant character throughout the game to bring it back from 2-0 down and I’m delighted to get the first assist for big Sammo.

“Always good to set the big man up – a frustrating game that I feel we could have won, but from being 2-0 down we’ll take a draw.”

Alloa remain unbeaten in the league, having only lost one game all season to Greenock Morton in the League Cup group stage.

The draw with Inverness also sends Alloa top of the league, albeit only on goals scored, an increase of one on Queen of the South.

“The character in the changing room,” O’Donnell added. “It’s such a good group of boys and everyone will give their all to the final whistle.

“There’s good character all round and it’s good to show that we can score goals, we can come back from 2-0 down.

“Hopefully we can stay top until the end of the season and hopefully win the league.

“That’s the goal for everyone in the changing rooms, it’s where we want to be and it’s where we see ourselves challenging so hopefully we can just kick on from there.”