“We have still got a huge amount to play for.

“Albeit we are disappointed that we have not managed to continue our run of getting second place like we have done for the past four seasons, third place is still important for us to bring European football back to Aberdeen next year.

“It is a huge last two games.

“European football is huge for the supporters, huge for the staff and huge for the players.

“We have to win our next two games and see where it takes us. I am sure if we do that we will be in a good position to finish where we want.

“We have already done well against both Edinburgh teams in games this season. Certainly we played well against Hearts here and we have won at Easter Road. We will draw on those experiences to give us confidence despite coming off the back of a couple of difficult results.

“I thought the Celtic game we were ok in spells and I did not think it was a 3-0 game, but that is football sometimes. We need to pick ourselves up as there is still plenty to fight for.

“Come this point in the season you hear other players talking about their holidays and other leagues have finished, but last season was the perfect example of why you need to keep fighting till the very last minute of the campaign. We will do that again and hopefully it will give us third spot.

“The gaffer will not let that happen (become disengaged) and the senior pros in the changing room like Graeme Shinnie, Joe Lewis, Andy Considine, Stephen Gleeson – they will not let that happen. They are on you every day in training. They are always making sure everyone is maintaining the high standards.

“We will continue to fight every day, every training session, every game. We have got to try and get the job done.”

Own Form

“It has been a frustrating time for me personally.

“I take responsibility for that myself.

“I have had enough opportunities to play and if I had played the way I can I maybe would not have been out of the team as much. My own performance levels have not been as good as they should have been and when you couple that with how well Andy and Scott have been playing, then there can only be one outcome – you don’t play.

“That is my own issue and I need to keep working hard. I need to work hard every day in training and when I do get an opportunity in the side, I need to play better than what I have been playing.

“Obviously as a footballer you are frustrated when you do not play but you have to look at yourself first and ask if your own performance levels have been good enough?

“I was out of the game for around 13 months before playing my first game for Aberdeen so maybe it was always going to take time to get back to my best. Having been out for that length of time I have enjoyed playing again this season and hopefully I can come back stronger next season.

“I will always keep working hard to improve.”

Injuries

“The length of time that I was out at the end of last year, ok it was minor compared with the 13 months, but was almost like an offseason and pre-season put together. When you come back for pre-season you have three or four weeks to get yourselves ready. Instead when you come back during the campaign you have to hit the ground running. It can be difficult, but it is part of being a professional, you need to deal with it.

“Injuries have ravaged our season.

“Although we have a very competitive squad and a lot of good players it can kill momentum and that consistency of team selection. Over recent years here, that is something Aberdeen have always had.

“They have had a very strong team which more or less played every week. That has not been the case this season. There have been a lot of changes, a lot of players coming in and out, mainly due to injury. And the injuries have not just been one or two weeks, there have been a number of long-term injuries.”

Squad size

“Having a bigger squad (to deal with injuries) is not always the answer.

“The size of squad is very important at a club like Aberdeen.

“The team spirit we have got here, I would not change it for the world. It is the best changing room I have ever been in and every player backs each other to the hilt.

“Even when I have been sitting on the bench, you see other clubs when a team scores a goal and barely a guy in the dugout reacts or celebrates – maybe because they are disappointed they are not playing. I do not see that here. All seven players celebrate with each other and are delighted that the team are winning.

“And also in terms of the squad size, it is important for the future of this club that we continue to push young players through. If we have too big a squad, with four, five, six, first team players not stripped come the weekend and sitting in the stand, the chances of a young player breaking through is almost impossible.

“A real positive to this season once again has been the impact of the young players on the starting XI. Last season the manager gave Scott McKenna a chance. This season we have seen Connor McLennan and Dean Campbell come into the side, Ethan Ross has got minutes under his belt, Bruce Anderson was involved during the first half of the season before going on loan, same with Scott Wright who has also gone away to get some more experience. Frank Ross as well will hopefully be fully fit come the start of next season. So their inclusion this season has been a big positive.”

Finishing on a high

“Our objective in the league this season was to qualify for Europe.

“You want to go out and achieve what you set out to achieve.

“It will leave a sour taste in the mouth if we have not done what we set out to do.

“If over these last two games we can get European football secured, that allows everyone to go and enjoy their summer knowing that the job is done. Obviously we would have liked to have finished slightly higher and gone one step further in the cups, but finishing third is the only target left for us.

“If we do that, we then have a chance to go and rebuild in the summer, work hard and hopefully kick on next season.”