Bruce Anderson

The U20s are in action tomorrow night at Pittodrie in the 1^st Round of the SFA Youth Cup against Fraserburgh. To preview the game, we spoke to striker Bruce Anderson who started his season with two goals on Tuesday night against Dundee…
 
“Tuesday summed up the highs and lows of football. For an hour, we played really well and I scored twice. It was good play by Frank for the first one, I managed to peel off the centre-back and just concentrated on hitting the target. For the second one, Scott Wright did well and cut it back. It was good to start the season off with goals and hopefully I can carry it on.

“Going forward, we looked good. Myself, Connor, Scott and Frank all linked well. More and more we are getting used to each other’s games and building up an understanding.

“Paul has emphasised that going forward, we are doing ok but we all need to do more to defend as a team. Once we went 2-0 up, we maybe thought the job was done and took the foot off the gas slightly. That allowed Dundee to get a foothold back in the game and once they scored, their tails were up.

“I love scoring so it is always nice to be picked as a forward, but I just like playing anywhere. I am happy to play the lone striker role, or play out wide or just in behind the striker. For most of my time in the Youth Academy, I played that number ten role. I enjoyed that because I could get on the ball and show people what I can do.

“I played six or seven times last season in the number nine role when Joe was injured. Although it was tough at times, I learned how to play the position, the different movements you need to make. I try to take something from every day, whether it be in a game or training. You are always learning.

“I am quite close to Adam Rooney so he has been giving me a lot of tips. Adam and myself were injured at the same time, so we had a bit of banter in the treatment room and have since become friends. He gives me a bit of stick on Twitter but it is all good fun! Adam is good with all the young boys to be fair. He always has time for them and passes on advice.

“The only aim I have is to do the best I can. Like all the U20 boys, I want to push for the first team. To do that I need to keep working really hard, and also keep on scoring.

“I am from Banff. I was about 14 when Colin Grant spotted me at a game when I was at Dyce Boys Club. I think we won 8-0 and I scored a few goals. I then came in for a six-week trial but then went back to Dyce Boys and trained with then until the end of the season. Then I came into the Aberdeen system at the start of the following year.

“I am always confident, I think you have to be if you are to make your way in the game. I was always confident after the trial that I would join the Youth Academy and then that I could win a professional contract. When I joined as a full time player last year, the hardest part was adjusting off the field. Although it is only an hour away, I had to move away from home. I have had to mature a lot.

“The U20 squad this season is very strong. All the young boys that have come in, every one of them is bringing something to the squad. You can see how strong is it when you look at the bench on Tuesday night. The other thing is all the boys have bonded really well. I think that was helped by going away to Portugal for our pre-season. 

“Training is one of the most important things about being a footballer. You have to train the same way as you play. I always try and give it 100%. You have to show the coaches that you are giving your all and trying to do your best every day.

“The pre-season campaign went well. We played against some very good opposition in Portugal and then had the two matches in the Irn-Bru Cup. Playing competitive games against some very good ex-professionals, we learned a lot.

“We were really up for the game on Tuesday, in good form and that makes what happened even more disappointing. After a game like that, you want to get back out on the pitch as soon as possible. I know it is something players say a lot but it really has been the way we have felt the past two days. Then we want to push on and put in a good performance in the game against Motherwell in the league.

“We are desperate to do well in the Youth Cup. Since I have been here we have been knocked out in the early rounds. All the boys are really up for it and want a good run in the competition. Watching the final last season between Motherwell and Hearts, we were jealous as we know that on our day we can match most of the 20s sides in the county.

“The fact we have played two games recently with a U20s only team should also help us tomorrow night. We have to go out and treat it like a normal game and hopefully our football will take care of itself. We have to have the right attitude and put in 100%. Arron Norris’s brother plays for Fraserburgh, so we have been having a bit of banter about that.

“I have been fortunate enough to score at Pittodrie, in the Youth Cup last season. It was probably my best moment as a professional player. We are all really looking forward to the game and playing at the stadium, it has a different vibe to it. It is exciting.”