Saturday 2 September, 2017
Aberdeen Colts v Inverness Caledonian Thistle
Glebe Park, kick-off 3.00pm

Striker Bruce Anderson previewed this weekend’s Irn-Bru Round 2 fixture against Inverness CT. The youngster though first spoke about his loan deal to Elgin City which was completed on Wednesday.

“I am delighted with the loan move. It will be a new challenge for me. I am looking forward to going there and hopefully I can do well and score a few goals. It is all about learning and developing.

“A few of the players from Elgin have already been in touch to welcome me to the club. That was appreciated. I also know one of the boys as he is also from Banff.

“Paul pulled me aside and said they wanted me to go out to get first team experience. I jumped at the opportunity. The main thing for me is to keep developing. You can not stand-still.

“It is a massive year. When I signed another two year deal I spoke with the manager at the time. I know that I really need to be pushing for a place in the first team squad.

“I am quite excited about playing at that level to see how I get on.

“I will probably get battered and bruised a bit! But playing as a striker you also get that treatment in the Development League. The big difference is that I will be playing against experienced players. That side to it I am looking forward to.

“My physicality is something I have been working hard on over the past couple of years. I got told when I first came in full time that I would have to build myself up. I have been working hard with the sport science team and been doing work on my own.

“I will still train at Pittodrie all week and then travel to meet up with the team on a Saturday. I can also still play for the 20s in the Development League on a Tuesday.”

Bruce had a little taste of first team action during pre-season and scored in the Dons first game against St Johnstone in Perth. And what a finish it was to!

“I still go on about it now! I was a great feeling. All the boys after the game were so pleased for me. Everything about it was great. I loved that experience. Just playing with the first team was brilliant and the goal was certainly a nice bonus.

“I did the pre-season with the first team at St Andrews. And then I did a pre-season with the 20s so I got two pre-seasons under my belt! The week at St Andrews I was like a sponge – I was just taking everything in from all the players. I would watch to see what they were doing before training, during training and afterwards as well. I would watch to see how they would prepare for a game. I was trying to take as much out of the experience as I could.

“When I am fortunate enough to train with them I will watch to see what the strikers do. I am friendly with Adam Rooney. He is a player I watch closely and I try and take bits out of his game. I am looking forward to seeing Stevie May at close quarters.

“Adam is very good with me. Ever since I came in he is someone I have been able to speak to. He is always there for me. If I am having a bad spell I will go and speak with him. He is the one I go to for advice. He is always asking me how I am getting on. The way he conducts himself on and off the pitch, he is a very good role model for any young player.”

The U20s go into the game on Saturday still unbeaten after beating St Johnstone U20s in the last round then drawing their opening league games against Ross County and Motherwell.

“In the dressing room we feel quite hard done by if I am being honest. We probably should have six points. Both games we have been up against ten men late on and in both games, we had chances to win it. I will take responsibility in the Motherwell game as I had a couple of chances which I did not put away. Playing against ten men for so long, it is a game we should of won, all the boys in the dressing room know that. Hopefully in the Development League we can kick on and get some wins.

“In any game of football the result is the main thing and the Irn-Bru Cup competition is no different for us. Even more so as it is a cup competition. We want to win but we know how tough it will be on Saturday. They were an SPFL Premiership side last season. We will have to perform at our very best if we want to compete with them. If we do that then you never know what can happen. They have experienced players. They have some very good players. We are all looking forward to the occasion.

“We all trust Paul (Sheerin) and will listen to what he tells us. We will certainly all be up for the game.
“The main thing is to keep developing we want to keep learning. Playing against Inverness will allow us to do that.”