Earlier this week, the Dons completed the signing of Manchester United striker James Wilson on a loan agreement for the rest of the season. Wilson, who scored twice on his senior debut for the Old Trafford Club against Hull City in 2014, has represented England at various levels, including the Under-21s, and will now look to show his goalscoring prowess north of the border. The switch to Pittodrie is the fourth loan spell of Wilson’s career, after previous stints with Brighton & Hove Albion, Derby County and Sheffield United.

“I am very happy to be here. It was my coach at Manchester United, Ricky Sbragia, who first told me about the interest from Aberdeen three or four weeks ago, but I have since heard that the club have been following my progress for the past six to 12 months. They have kept an eye on me, which is nice.

“I just felt coming to Aberdeen was the right decision to make. I spoke to the manager on the phone and he was very positive. He wanted to find out all about me and see what type of person I was. He told me a lot about his philosophy and plan for me for the season.

“We’re in two cups so that’s a very realistic target for us. The league last year, we came second again and we’re trying to build on that. I’m very confident I can contribute to the team in one way or another.

“I chose Aberdeen because it is a massive club. Scottish football is also getting a lot of good coverage now. In terms of coming here or going to a Championship side or League One team in England, I will get the same experience here. I’m in my last year at Man United and hopefully I can put myself in the shop window. I know a lot of the Aberdeen games are televised. All round, I feel it is the right move for me, a new beginning.

“As a United player, of course you always know that Sir Alex was here in the past. Since I’ve been here, I’ve already had people telling me the history of the club so it’s nice to find out more about him. I have experienced the hairdryer treatment, not for me personally I like to point out! That is one of my memories I have of him. I have also seen the other side of Sir Alex too and the way he would encourage the young players at Old Trafford.

“When you have to make a decision like this, I like to ask as many people as I can for advice, people I trust. I have been asking around a lot and no one had a bad word to say about the club. It is nice to get those opinions off other people and that helped me make up my mind.

“Also when I’ve spoken to people about the club, they’ve mentioned big names that have come here and done well and gone back to their own clubs and thrived. It’s a competitive league. We have the two big teams in the league and we’re going to try and compete with them. It’s a good standard and will provide a good challenge for me and maybe a slightly different one.

“I know Dom Ball from England Under 19s but other than that I’ve just seen the games on the TV. Coming into the dressing room the players were very welcoming. It’s a good atmosphere here, even though I’ve only been here a short time. I feel like I’m already getting to know everyone and hopefully fitting into the team”.
Like any youngsters at Old Trafford, James has found making the breakthrough into Manchester United’s team a tough nut to crack, understandably so at one of the very biggest clubs in the world.

“At United there is a massive step up from the youth team to the U23s so going from the youth team into the first team, you can imagine how tough it was, but it was a great experience getting to play alongside so many star players. It is strange, one day you are watching them from a far and the next you are in the dressing room with them.

“Getting that experience at a young age, playing alongside world class players, stands you in good stead because you realise the standards you need to reach if you want to play at that level. Even just training with them, the intensity was there every day and you had to up your game. All the players at United were great with me and they were easy to speak to. They all wanted to help you learn.

“Without blowing my own trumpet, I back myself and I am a confident lad. I would like to think that this will be a good move and will be a special year. Confidence is very important for a striker. If you can keep it high then everything else will follow.

“Some loan moves have not worked out as well as I would have hoped so this one is very important. It is a big year for me. I am hoping to get as many minutes under my belt as I can and hopefully get goals to help the team push forward.

“My first loan move was at Brighton. That was a big move because it was the first loan and the first time I moved away from home. Arguably, that was my best spell. I’m not saying I’m trying to replicate it here, by moving away from home, but I think it’s good for me to be out of my comfort zone. I think it’s a good thing moving away, joining a new dressing room and experiencing a new environment.

“You always have that weight on your shoulders coming from Manchester United, but it’s about how you handle it. A few of the lads have come through the development squad and not reached their full potential, which is a shame, but hopefully this is the next step in my career and hopefully I can do a lot for the team going forward.

“I have my eyes on personal goals, but the most important thing is helping the team. I want to help the team get three points each Saturday and to win cup games, starting this afternoon.

“My time at Aberdeen will be the biggest move of my career. I have never been in the last year of my contract before, so my future depends on what happens here. There is an option to give me another contract but with all the big-money signings United have made and how my career has gone, I’d expect to be moving on.

“I am not totally resigned to the fact I’ll be leaving United, but it’s highly likely that I need to put myself into the shop window this season. That’s football these days. The big clubs can bring in the big-money signings and go for the players that have proved themselves already.”