Whilst every cup semi-final is a special occasion, Saturday’s match will have extra significance for Derek McInnes as he comes up against the club where it all began as a player for him.

The Aberdeen manager recently spoke to RedMatchday about his time in Grreenock:

“Morton is such a special club for me. I really do have a lot to thank them for. I will always be indebted to them for the way they shaped me right across my career. My then manager Allan McGraw and his assistant John McMaster had a huge influence on me becoming a footballer. They showed trust and confidence in me at a young age. I have so much time for the club and so many good memories. Every time I go to Cappielow, it is littered with good memories.

The eight years I had there was such a brilliant grounding for me.

“I was with them from the age of 16 and I made my debut at that age in the Premier League. Allan McGraw put me in against Dundee United. Then once we got relegated, there was a rebuilding job to do. Allan and John put me in the team and I played every week. That was a Godsend really. I look back now and there were times when I did not have the best of games but they saw that as part of my development. They would put me straight back in the following week. They had so much faith in me and that for a young player is so important.

“Although John McMaster is really associated with his time at Pittodrie, as the Morton assistant manager he was a great help to me. Because Allan was not always able to be on the training pitch, John was my coach as well. He was a massive influence on me. 

“It was a tough upbringing under the two of them. I had to work very hard every day. When I look back now, they were really demanding of us and you would be working from 8am to 7pm doing jobs and all sorts. I have much to thank them for, it gave me a great work ethic.

“I have to thank the scouts John Kerr and George Gillespie who took me there in the first place and the people who looked after me when I picked up a couple of serious injuries too, the club really looked after me and got me fit.

“I can't deny it is a nostalgic draw for me but at the end of the day, both teams will just see the game as being one step away from a cup final.

“Although it is our fourth semi-final in three and a bit years now, we don't take it for granted. It is still every bit as special for us as it is for Morton to be in a national cup semi-final.”
 

During the rest of the week www.afc.co.uk and RedTV will have further interviews with the manager and players ahead of the semi-final on Saturday.