The Dons added to their attacking options this season with the arrival of Nick Maynard at the club, a man who bagged over 100 goals in his time south of the border for clubs such as West Ham United, Crewe, MK Dons and Bristol City.

At Ashton Gate in particular, he really caught the eye, featuring in FourFourTwo’s “The Boy’s A Bit Special” feature and earning a move to West Ham, though injuries conspired to hamper his progress.

It was also at Bristol City that he came into contact with Derek McInnes, the Aberdeen gaffer clearly remembering the qualities Nicky can bring to a side and swooping to bring him to Pittodrie this summer.

“Obviously I have worked with the gaffer and the Doc before so I know what to expect in training and the kinds of things they want from me on the pitch. I am looking forward to this next chapter in my career.

“I have enjoyed my time here so far. Because I have worked with the gaffer before, I kept an eye on Aberdeen and have seen over the last couple of years how well the team have done, without fully knowing the ins and out. I did not really know what to expect when I came up here, but the lads have all helped me settle in really well. It is a very easy dressing room to settle into. There are no real big egos or anything like that.

“That is testament to the work done by the gaffer and Doc. They obviously do their homework on any potential new players before bringing them in and that helps clubs be successful because everyone is in it together.

“Everyone is rooting for each other. Even if you are not playing, everyone wants the guy in ahead of you to do well because at the end of the day, we all want the team to be successful come the end of the season. If you have a team that is not together, it will show the pitch, no matter how good the individual players are.

“I’m a pretty laid back person, at home and in the dressing room I am very quiet and laid back, nothing really riles me up. I can be a little bit cheeky and I will throw in the odd comment, but I have been in the game long enough to know not to bite at banter! If you bite they will keep going at you. There are certainly players here who love a nibble and they just get picked on every day!

“That said, I have to say there is some bad gear in here and one or two people deserve stick! I am not naming names yet, maybe later in the season! There are a lot of boys in tracksuits which I suppose is an easy option, a lot of the boys play it very safe. There are a few others who try very hard but they just can’t pull it off. And they need to be told! I come in every day to training expecting to get some stick but as long as you are confident with what you are wearing, that is the main thing.

“As I say though, it’s a great atmosphere here, it’s so easy to fit in. When I joined, we went to St Andrews and like you expect, it was hard the first few days to get to know everyone, but then we went away for a couple of days for the European games during which we are together the whole time.

“That was a good way for me and the other new boys to get integrated into the squad. Even when we had a bit of free time we would go for a walk and get a coffee together. As well as preparing properly for the game, it is good team bonding to relax in each other’s company. I have enjoyed getting to know everyone and will continue to do so over the season.”

Nicky’s arrival adds to the Dons’ attacking arsenal because as he says, he offers another different option.

“All the strikers at the club are different. I am more of a direct player who likes to go in behind where so of the others like to come into feet. So we all offer something different.”

Nicky’s intelligent movement will be a big asset this season. If you need an example, it was a feature in the opening goal in Bosnia when his run took a defender away and created the space for Greg Stewart to run into.

“In that game there was quite a lot of space in behind. My run there worried them into dropping back and once one drops back, there is then space for other people to get on the ball in an area close to the goal.

“Sometimes I can make runs all day and not touch the ball for 15 minutes. It can be frustrating but it’s not about me, it is about the team. We want to win the game, it does not matter who scores.”

That said, Nicky has scored a few crackers in his career, one in particular…

“When I was at Bristol City, on Boxing Day we were playing QPR away. We lost the game 2-1 but this was a game I will always remember. I finished that season with twenty odd goals but this was the best one. The goal was voted the ‘Football League goal of 2009”. The ball was played up to me and without the ball touching the ground, I took two touches before flicking the ball over my shoulder and volleying it into the top corner. The keeper did not even move.

“Whether I’m scoring goals from 30 yards or scruffy goal from a yard, they all feel just as good. They all count and mean the same. If it comes off my backside or my head, it does not matter!

“As a striker you can go three or four games and wonder when your next chance is going to come from. If you look at all strikers, even those playing at the very top level, you can go from scoring every week to suddenly going four or five weeks without scoring. If you let it affect you, then it will have an impact on your game. I do not let it affect me and I ignore negative comments. I have been in the game long enough to know how to deal with that situation when you have not scored for how many games.

“When I was younger I would maybe start hiding and not making the runs that I should have. Now if I go two or three games without scoring, I will make that extra run to make things happen. You cannot go hiding in football. I know for example that during my first couple of Aberdeen games there were chances I could have done better with that could have resulted in a goal. I know the match sharpness and fitness comes into play. The more games I play the more the sharpness will come back.”

It has been a busy start to his Aberdeen career, until this week hardly having a day off since arriving at St Andrews in July. But that’s the kind of punishing schedule Nicky has long been used to.

“Down south, you are playing almost every Saturday, Tuesday. The Championship is not too bad because at least you get international breaks but you don’t get them in League One. I would rather be playing though than training, playing games is the best way to get your match fitness.”