Connor recently spoke to the Red Matchday editor:

 

Cup football is a very special beast, different from its league counterpart in every sense. The one off nature of the games adds a particular edge to things, giving every pass, tackle, shot added weight simply because in the cup, there are no second chances – well there are cup replays but you get my drift… once you’re out, you’re out.

That pressure can consume some players but for others, it can be the occasion that they rise to, it can provide the opportunity for them to make an enduring name for themselves, not just at their own club, but on the national stage.

The Dons have had their share of players who have done just that, including the young Arthur Graham who emerged from out of nowhere to take a decisive place on the wing for the Dons as they roared to the Scottish Cup win of 1970 when he was barely old enough to shave.

At 17 Neale Cooper was the same age as ‘Bumper’ when he broke in the Aberdeen side during the 1981-82 campaign and would end the season with a summersault on the Hampden pitch and Scottish Cup winners medal. A similar story the following year with Eric Black, became a first team regular and went on to score in the ECWC final and ten days later the winner in the Scottish Cup.

Eoin Jess was still a raw 19-year-old with only a handful of games to his name when he was handed a starting spot in the 1989 League Cup final.

And we should never forget Graham Watson’s remarkable bravery in the first ever Scottish Cup final penalty shoot-out. One month prior to the 1990 final, at the same age as Jess, he had never made a single professional first-team appearance.

Now, as we enter the latter stages of this season’s competition, with a replay against Rangers to come on Tuesday and a potential semi-final against Celtic, could history be about to repeat itself, the Dons being inspired to success by another lively young attacker who has only really emerged on the first team stage recently?

Unlike the others at that stage, Connor McLennan has, of course, already played in a cup final for the Dons, coming on as a substitute in the League Cup final earlier this season. That itself followed on from last term’s Youth Cup final in which he scored a superb individual goal, early evidence that he thrives on the big occasion.

But in replacing Gary Mackay-Steven in the League Cup final, Connor put in a performance that defied his age and drew praise from everyone watching, including the Celtic players trying to mark him. He followed that up with a good performance in the win against Rangers at Ibrox and in December helped turn a number of games in Aberdeen’s favour.

“As soon as Gaz went down, I got told to warm up, but straight away, you could tell it wasn’t a good situation and we’d have to make the change. The manager called me over and told me I was going on and gave me the instructions for the game. He was really encouraging, he told me that I was more than ready for the chance and to go and grab it.

“I’m lucky, I don’t really suffer with nerves, I just wanted to get out there and get on with it, playing football is what I do, so why be nervous about it? I do enjoy the big stage. I am quite laid back and in my mind I just take very game as it comes. Even if there is a bit of a crowd, it does give me an extra boost so hopefully I can be involved in the up comig games.

“Playing in a cup final is a dream, especially for the club I’ve supported all my life, and although the result was very disappointing, it was a great occasion for me personally. It was my dad’s birthday, he was at the game, so it was a nice present for him! It’s just a shame we couldn’t get him the win, but having had a taste of it, it just makes me more determined to get back to Hampden again and be on a winning team.

“I know helping the side get a result over Rangers in the Quarter Finals would be an important step for me at this stage of my career. There is no point in denying how big a tie it is. It is massive. To be a top player you need to be able to put in big performances on the big occasions.

“The games against Rangers this season have all been so tight. It is then just about producing that special moment, that moment of quality that can win you the game”.

Increasingly, Connor us producing those kinds of moments that can turn tight games, transform draws into wins. After the win at Livingston in December, Derek McInnes made a point of saying that Connor’s displays were showing now increasing maturity and that he was fast becoming the kind of player that he could rely on week in week out, not just by showing his electrifying pace but by doing the uglier side of the game too, digging in, working back, making life hard for the opposition when they’ve got the ball, not just when he has it.

“I know what is expected of me if I am going to push for a regular place in the side. In training, it is about making a good impression and going about my business the right way and having the correct attitude.

“The management team have to have confidence in young players when we are put in the team, so it is up to us to provide them with that confidence by the way we perform in training and then delivering on the pitch if we get in the first team.

“The main difference from going from the reserves or development side to the first team is you have so much to remember and learn. The manager and coaches always knew I had some ability from what I had shown in training, so it was up to me to show the manager that he could trust me and then he could start playing me more after that.

“That trust only comes from doing your job on the field. You always have to be switched on and aware of your defensive duties. The lads all help me, and make sure for example my positioning is correct. At set pieces, you maybe think the players are picking on me! They are not, they are just making sure everyone is doing their job.

“There is a lot you have to take care of. It is not all just about going out there and getting the ball and running at opponents. The role anyone plays in the starting XI is far bigger than you think. The set pieces for example are a massive part of the game and you have to make sure you do your job.

“The manager is very good at not trying to over complicate things for me. He does not try and put too much onto me. He knows what I can do and just tells me to go and do what I am good at. That is the main thing. As long as I work hard and do my bit for the team, the rest will come.

“I have a very good relationship with the manager. Obviously with my injuries and being out for a long time, it was frustrating not just for me but also for the coaches. There is no getting away from that. They stuck by me though and showed faith in me, which I greatly appreciate. I am sure they were as happy as anyone to see me getting a run of games.

“Now I feel like I am ready to take the next step. I am ready to become a first team regular and ready to score more goals and get more assists. Yes, I have scored a few goals, missed a few as well!

That is a part of my game that I really want to improve on, but I know I can do it. The more I play with the boys, the more I can anticipate where the ball is going to go and know where they are going to be at and where they want me to be.

“The fitness is not bad now. I was quite tired in the St Johnstone game because I had not yet played a full 90 minutes since I came back from the injury after the winter break. I did play in the reserves, but I am still trying to get my full match fitness back at this top level, but it will come from playing regularly.

“The injury came at a bad time because I had just forced my way into the side in December after some good performances. I am not really sure what happened, maybe just a few old injuries which I am still trying to manage. The physios are top class and doing a great job to keep me out on the field. Now I just want to play regularly and put in consistent performances for the team”.