In RedMatchday 09 there is an in depth interview with Gary Mackay-Steven:

As we saw with Greg Stewart in our last issue, there’s more than one route to the top in football, but if you need further proof, you can find it in the frame of Gary Mackay-Steven.

Injury when he was a youngster hampered his progress after a youthful career that took in spells at Liverpool and Fulham after it had begun at Ross County, but over the last few seasons he has established himself as one of the most exciting attacking talents back on this side of the border.

“I got the chance to go to Liverpool when I was very young. It was quite surreal seeing how big the club was and the facilities they had. I don’t regret anything. I’d do it again if I was back there, it was an amazing experience. It was a good group that I was with and a lot of the boys are still playing although not at Liverpool – Martin Kelly at Crystal Palace for example.

“I learned a lot when I was down there. Unfortunately injuries curtailed some of my progress but joining a club like Liverpool after they had just won the Champions League and then two seasons later, they were runners-up in the same competition. I would watch the first team as they trained beside you, they were all Champions League winners, so you can’t help but learn off players like that.

“I moved to Liverpool when I was 15. Not many people move away from home at such a young age and it was a long way from home in Thurso, so that does make you grow up quicker. I also learned very early on how quickly football can change. You can get injuries and things you can’t control which can change your course.”

Plus: Graeme Shinnie, Derek McInnes, Ryan Christie, Kenny McLean, Richard Gordon, Miko Virtanen, Q&A with Mark Reynolds – always a highlight of the season, an FPs interview with John McMaster plus we go back in time to the Autumn 1980 in our extensive history section. All this, plus all the usual history features in our 84 pages, for only £3.00.

RedMatchday Magazine is available to buy in the AFC Club shop and from sellers in and around the ground.