Aberdeen this week completed the signing of Michael Ruth.

The 17-year-old was highly sought after, the latest player to come through the Queen’s Park Youth Academy. Scotland captain Andy Robertson was playing for them in the fourth tier of Scottish football only six seasons ago and ex Don Lawrence Shankland also came from the amateur side.

We spoke to Michael after his first week at Pittodrie, where he has been training with the development squad.

“Training has been tough, but it is what I expected joining a full-time team.

“I have settled in quickly. I was not really nervous, more excited about getting started and excited about the next couple of weeks and getting into full-time football. All the boys have made me very welcome in the changing room and I felt very much at home when I got out onto the pitch and started playing.

“I know Connor Barron as we were in the Scotland squad together. It was good having someone to speak to about the club so I had lots of questions for him over the summer. He was a great help.

“It still feels a little bit strange being a full-time player. It is a huge club and it is a big challenge over the next couple of years, seeing where I can get to, but one I am looking forward to.

“Moving away from home was a big decision but I feel it is the right thing to do. If you want to make it in the game, then it is something you have to do at a young age and it is a decision many players have to make, so I did not even think twice about it. You have to be willing to make sacrifices.

“Also moving away from home, all the focus is then on the football and my job and there are no distractions.”

It was well documented that a number of sides were closely following the progress of Michael, but the striker felt Aberdeen was the best place for him to develop, especially with the amount of young players who have broken into the senior side over the past couple of seasons.

“After speaking to the manager, this sounded like the best place for me to go to.

“Over the next couple of years, Aberdeen will give me the best chance of getting into the first team if I do well enough. I am looking forward to seeing how well I can do and hopefully one day I can make it.

“I had never met the manager before, but he was a big influence on my decision. He speaks very well about the club and this sounded like the best place to come to after talking to him.

“I spoke with my mum and dad and also my agent. They were the main people I spoke to about my options and we all thought the same, that Aberdeen was the best place for me to continue my career.”

The striker broke into the Queen’s Park first team two seasons ago and made his debut on the 7th April 2018 at Hampden against East Fife. Last season Michael made seven appearances for the Spiders in League Two and scored his first senior goal against Albion Rovers on the 6th April 2019.

“Queen’s Park are a great club. They have a great youth system.

“If you work hard and do well enough then you get rewarded with chances in the first team, regardless of your age.

“I have been there seven years or so. As soon as I turned ten, I joined them and went all the way through the different age groups to the senior side. As soon as they thought I was good enough I was put straight into the first team. They give you that chance so I will always be grateful to them for that and what they did for me as a young player.

“I was only 16 when I made my debut.

“I would not say I was nervous, I don’t think you are at that age and when the whistle goes you just focus on the football. When I was training with them it was just the excitement about trying to make my debut and when you do that and get a taste for it, you just want to play more and more games. At the end of last season I got quite a bit of game time, so it was a great experience and hugely beneficial for my career going forward.

“I made my debut at Hampden!

“There are not many players who can say that. There are many good players who never get the chance to play at the national stadium. I am sure it is what attracts some players to Queen’s Park. It is not just playing on a great surface, the changing rooms and the whole environment makes it such a great place for a young player to play.

“I scored my first senior goal last season.

“I would love to sit here and tell you it was a 30 yarder into the top corner! It wasn’t. There was cross that came in, I think it might even have been a shot! Anyway, I managed to get on the end of it and my header found the net. It was against Albion Rovers away, it was a big game as they were fighting for survival, it was between them and Berwick Rangers to see who would drop into the play-off spot. It was a great moment for me and one I will never forget.

“I have not always been a striker.

“I have played centre-midfield as well as centre forward. When I joined Queen’s Park I was actually a central defender! At that age we played seven-a-side. But as our games became more built up and we moved to 11-a-side, I was more of an attacking player and got pushed higher up the pitch. Many defenders start out as strikers and then work their way back – I have gone the other way!”

Although Michael was already a player on Aberdeen’s radar, he certainly enhanced his reputation when the young Dons played Queen’s Park at Lessor Hampden in the Club Academy Scotland U18 League. The young Dons were 2-0 up but Michael levelled the game with two stunning strikes. Aberdeen did win the game, Lewis Duncan scoring an equally fine goal in the final minute.

“I do remember my goals from that game. I remember the second one well, it always looks good when the ball crashes in off the bar like that! I liked that goal, it was one of my favourites. With my two goals I was pleased with my efforts at the end of the game, because I had done so well against a good team, I almost forgot we actually lost the match! I quickly remembered when the Aberdeen players were celebrating!

“Last season I scored quite a number of goals at that level, but I actually started the season in midfield so I was more concerned about providing assists. Once I got the chance to play as a striker it was just about getting goals and doing as well as I could for the team so I could get promoted into the first team.

“At international level I also played a number of different positions last season for Scotland U16s. I came on in the final few minutes in the match against Spain and played the full 90 in the games against England at St George’s Park and Denmark after that. Against the Danes I played in midfield and against England I played on the left-wing so I am able to adapt and play in different positions.

“I think as a young player it is important that you are able to do that. It also helps you learn more about the game.

“There was obviously a big step up from playing at U18 level one week, going to senior football the next.

“Physicality is the biggest difference. You have to be able to battle, especially when you are up against a big experienced defender. The tempo of the game and the football side of it, I was able to adjust to that relatively quickly, the physical aspect maybe took a bit longer to get used to. But I felt I held my own.

“I know that I have a lot of hard work ahead of me if I want to make it into the Aberdeen senior side.

“I need to concentrate on getting fitter and stronger which will happen being in full time. I need to use the gym and listen to what the sport science team are telling me.

“I know it will take time, I will not walk straight into the Aberdeen first team squad. It will not happen overnight. I need to be patient. It is easy to fall into the trap of thinking you have made it as a player when you sign your first full time contract, but you are only at the beginning of a long journey.

“I will give it my all. I will get my head down and work as hard as I can and hopefully my chance will come one day.”