Blair McKenzie has become the latest promising youngster at AFC to be offered a new deal. Blair, who came from Edinburgh side Hutchison Vale FC, signed as a professional for the Dons in 2021 and the tall defender made a big impression this season. He has been rewarded with a two-year extension.

Like when he signed his first contact, there was much interest from elsewhere in the left sided centre-half but he felt Aberdeen is the place for him to continue his football journey.

“I was very happy when I got offered a new deal. I am loving my football. All the boys here are brilliant. It is a great place to be.

“Having the two-year deal gives me some stability and allows me to get my head down and just focus on my football. I know what I need to do and where I need to get to over these next couple of seasons.

“I had other options, but since I arrived at Aberdeen two years ago, coming from boys club football, they have done so much for me off and on the park. The have done so much to help me develop as a player. You can see the difference in me. I feel working with Barry and Steve next season will help me even more. This is the best place for me to develop as a player.

“Off the pitch, it is such a welcoming club. Before signing two years ago, I had other options in the central belt, It was all the boys here, they made me feel so welcome. I felt like I fitted in at Aberdeen.

“As a club, if you look at the last few years, young players get a chance at Aberdeen. And since Barry has come in as first team manager, he has given Alfie Bavidge his debut. Ryan Duncan has had his chance.

“The gaffer has also taken some of the other young boys and myself up to training with the first team. Just being around the first team boys, talking to them, learning off them. You learn so much just talking to the more experienced players. I think one of the most important things is .just watching others and learning how they train and then implementing that for yourself.They make me feel really welcome.

“The manger worked with me for two years so he knows what I am like, he knows what the rest of the boys are like. It is very good for me and the other young players at the club having him as the manager going forward. He knows what my strengths are. He knows what areas of my game I need to work on.

“It has been a good season for the 18s team. We have played a lot of good football and won a lot of games but unfortunately just came up a little bit short in the title race. It has shown us that you have to be at it and be able to perform in every game, if you are going to win something.

“Personally, I feel I have had a good season, I have been fairly consistent. There have been ups and downs, but that is football. Last week I scored the winner against Rangers, one of the best goals I have ever scored! The following game I was sent off against Motherwell. So you have to learn to deal with these things.

“Individually I have learned a lot.

“Going into men’s football I know that I still need to work on my physical strength. I need to get a bit stronger – something which is very important for a defender, particularly my upper body strength. It is something I have noticed when I have trained with the first team, as the players being technically better and faster. It does take a while to get used to.

“Going out on loan next season is an option, but my focus will just be on having a strong pre-season and then seeing what happens. It would be good experience for me if I was in with the first team. Hopefully I have a chance to show what I can do.

“It is maybe harder for a young defender to get his chance in the first team, compared with a young striker. It does take longer because you need to be physically ready.

“The areas I feel that I have improved most, probably my distribution. I am more comfortable taking the ball and look for the right pass. Defensively I feel that I have got a lot better. I have worked hard with the coaches through the season.

“At the other end, I have scored five goals. It should be more! Because of my height I have had chances. I have though contributed quite a lot of assists from knocking the ball down. The Rangers goal was the only one that I did not use my head! It was a volley, no idea where it came from!

“I am focussing on finishing the season with a win on Friday, and then going away and spending some time with my family and friends. I grew up in Roslin, a small town just outside Edinburgh, so I will be heading back down there. Then I will look towards next season.”