This is my final blog as we are going back into training next week. We are looking forward to getting going again.

Before we do that, we will all be tested and once we get the results back, we will be good to go – all being well.

I am just looking forward to seeing a few friendly and familiar faces again. It will be good to get that small bit of normality back. We are all well rested and looking forward to getting back at it.

Safety

To train properly and to increase the intensity of our work over the next few weeks, we need to feel safe and secure. And we do.

I know there has been a lot of work behind the scenes to allow us to get back to training. A lot of planning has been done to cover various scenarios. Money has been spent on getting the correct equipment in, as well as finding a solution to test players and staff.

I believe we are going to get tested at least twice a week right up until the start of the season and then during the campaign.

The club have done their utmost to do everything properly, so we are well looked after.

We have complete faith in the medical team.

Adam Stokes (pictured below) has been involved in a lot of the planning with the football authorities. Adam has been very hands on and has been briefing the players on most things. He will be working with the sport science guys and the coaches.

No short cuts will be taken.

The club have been very professional throughout the lockdown. We have been on numerous Zoom calls with Steven Gunn, Director of Football Operations, who has provided us with updates throughout.

Testing

It’s not nice to hear of anyone getting it, especially someone you know well. As my former manager at international level, Michael O’Neill is someone I have a lot of time for. I wish him well and a speedy recovery.

I believe from one of the boys who plays at Stoke, that they were travelling in separate cars to the Manchester training centre and Manchester United were testing everyone on arrival, before they got into the centre. It just shows the importance of constant testing and that it does work.

Reflection

Regarding myself, I have always been a calm and levelheaded, laid back type of guy. I have tried to take everything that has happened the past few months in my stride.

I have been trying to get involved in as much as I possibly can at the club. I have really enjoyed speaking to the fans – the younger generation, the older generation and hearing their stories about the club. I enjoyed meeting some of them when I was doing deliveries as well.

It has given me a chance to appreciate again how lucky I am to do what I do and I am grateful that people look up to me.

I have also got a better understanding of how the club works and have seen things I did not know too much about.

It has helped me appreciate how fortunate I am being a professional footballer and what I can do to help others.

Aims

I just want to kick on and build on how I finished last season. I was involved with scoring a few goals and setting a few up, playing in a more central position off the main striker.

I want to be involved as much as I possibly can. I want to keep chipping in with assists and goals. I have targets in my head of where I want to get to.

I want to keep improving, to keep learning. You are always learning the game. You always need to keep working hard.

I want to keep enjoying my football as long as I possibly can. That is the most important thing.

Coaching

I have just finished my UEFA B Coaching License the other day and got my certificate which was pleasing. I will then look at moving on with my ‘A’ License when the time is right and when I get a chance.

I think it is maybe easier doing your badges when you are within a club setup as you have people around you who can help. A big thank you goes to Greig Thomson and the other staff at the club who helped me along the way. Barry Robson and Paul Sheerin have helped me by providing the younger lads so I could put on sessions.

The actual License itself is difficult, there is a lot of work that you need to do yourself over the course of a year, a year and a half. There are a lot of assignments but it very worthwhile getting your badges.

Winning

I think we are all ready to win another trophy.

We have come close. Very close.

We have had some bad luck. You do need that little bit of luck to go on and win a cup.

We came up against Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic team who were unstoppable that first year.

We have done it before so it would be nice when I finish my time at the club, whenever that may be, to look back at winning more than one trophy, to maybe win a Scottish Cup.

I would love to win that competition with Aberdeen. Thankfully we still have a semi-final to look forward to, so hopefully that game will go ahead and we have two chances at it next season.

It would be nice to finish with more medals.

Euros

It brought back good memories yesterday when I was watching some of the games from four years ago.

We still have a chance of qualifying for the finals next summer.

We have a semi-final against Bosnia and then a second game against Slovakia or the Republic of Ireland if we come through. It is going to be an interesting time.

Having been there and experienced it, you want more, so there is a lot to look forward to.

Niall was speaking to the Red Matchday Editor. A big thank you to Niall for all of his blogs during lockdown.