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Dons in Croatia | Scott Wright Feature

07 August 2019
Author Malcolm Panton (Red Matchday Editor)

 

Scott spoke recently to the Red Matchday editor.

There comes a time when potential is no longer enough – it has to be delivered upon. Judging from Scott Wright’s early season form, in his case, this could be his time to do it.
Wright has had to bide his time and wait for his opportunity but, just like others before him, it looks as if a spell out on loan might prove the key to him finding his way into the Dons’ first team.

“After my spell at Dundee, I feel that I have back to Aberdeen a more confident player and have a lot more confidence in my ability. That confidence is something I have maybe struggled with in the past, but I’m ready to come back and work hard and force my way into the team.

“The disappointment of being relegated at Dundee does leave a mark but that can be positive, it can drive you on to do better in future. It makes you understand that every game, every point counts. I loved my time at Dundee, it was just so disappointing to leave on a sour note with relegation. All my team mates there were fantastic with me and I really enjoyed my time on and off the pitch.

“I was playing a lot which was good for me and something I needed. Off the pitch, the club sorted me out with my own flat. That was a new experience for me, living away from home, so it makes you grow up. Those six months were an important experience for me and will hopefully help make me a better player.

“I was looking forward to coming back here and I enjoyed pre-season. We had a good break in the summer which allowed us all to recharge the batteries and we were all able to come in and hit the ground running when we came back.

“The manager and Tony made sure they got the work into us at training and Graeme Kirk takes a great pride in how fit we are and makes sure we are right for the Europa League games, which isn’t easy. We have complete trust in him that our fitness will be where its needs to be.

“I don’t mind pre-season because running is one of the strong parts of my game! Everyone comes back fit though. There is a lot of competition to see who is the fittest and the standard gets better every season. We have two weeks down time to have a break mentally but then everyone is back at it.

“The new players have all settled in really well. A couple we already know from playing against them, and a few have been here before of course. We knew Ryan Hedges a bit through Danny Ward from his time at the club.

“At the time of doing this interview though, I have still to hear them sing! Every new boy has to do an initiation song. It is something that is quite popular and happens at a lot of clubs. We do it properly. We get a stage and a microphone! It’s all a good laugh and good for team spirit. Ryan Hedges looks like he could do a bit and Curtis might be the surprise package! We will find out.

“It was good to get the signings in early, that is important. The gaffer has brought in some very good players. He has said in training that there is real pace in the side and that is going to be a positive for us this season with the way we are going to try and play. Having speed in the squad is going to suit our style, be that in the starting XI or with boys making an impact of the bench throughout the season.

“James Wilson and I are good pals, so I was delighted to see him back. He’d messaged me to say there was a chance he might come back. He then texted me the morning he arrived back and was asking for a lift! I picked him up and then we pulled into the car park and Sam Cosgrove looked over and gave me a thumbs up. And then he had to do a double take when he saw James in the car because it had not been announced yet!

“Everyone in the change room was so pleased to see him back. He is very popular with his team mates. We all know there is a fantastic footballer in there, so we are looking forward to him being part of the squad again. Hopefully it will be a successful move for him.

“Personally, it’s a big season for me. I am looking forward it. All I can do is keep working hard in training, work hard in games if I get an opportunity to show what I can do. I spoke last year in the programme about the need to keep being positive, and not get down if I’m not playing. It’s so important to have a positive mindset.

“For all forward line players, I think confidence is such a big factor. You have to have the confidence to beat players, and then when you do that, you have to have the confidence to put in a good cross or have a shot. That final ball is one of the hardest things to do in football because it is so important.

“The manager has said to me countless times that you could fail to take a man on nine times out of ten, but if that tenth time you get through and it leads to a goal, then you have done your job. You can then be the match winner and that is what you are remembered for.

“That is what I have to try and focus on. I can’t beat myself up if things are not happening for me on the pitch. I’m normally my harshest critic and sometimes can be too hard on myself. You just have to brush it off and go again and try and the ball and try and make something happen.

“Now we have a lot of attacking opinions, and all the forward players know we have a very strong defence behind us this season. We know that we will have clean sheets, so we can focus on doing our job and with the creativity we now have in the squad, we will score goals this season.

“Myself, Ryan, Jon, James, Niall, Connor, we are all happy playing anywhere, whether that be out wide or in a more central position. Playing more centrally is something I have had conversations with the manager about, but I am happy to play anywhere. I feel comfortable playing anywhere in that front three behind the striker. It is good the manager has so many attacking options.”

Those options impressed here at Pittodrie in the last two Europa League Rounds, Scott in particular. “I love the European games. I have had a taste of them in the past – I played against Daugava Riga a few seasons back, I came on against Maribor and against Burley last season. I felt I was ready for my first start, my full European debut against RoPS and I felt I did pretty well. Now I need to maintain that standard”.

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