However good you are and however much potential you show, being a young player trying to break through into a first team at the top level is difficult wherever you are.

Craig Storie knows that full well, despite being one of the most promising players at his age group in the country and playing for a club with a great reputation for giving young players their chance.

Having been with Aberdeen since he was 10, and having been coached by Peter Weir at the AFC Youth Academy Glasgow Centre, Craig signed his first professional contract in 2012 despite attempts from Manchester United to take him to Old Trafford. On 27 April 2013, he made his first team debut for Aberdeen in a league match against Kilmarnock.

Since then though, things have been very much stop / start for the boy from Carluke. He has had loan periods at Forfar Athletic and last year at Brechin City but has also had to deal with longer periods watching from the sidelines due to injury. Fit again though, he is now showing the talent everyone at the club knows he has.

“It has been a really frustrating time. Last season, I think I was fit for the first six weeks or so. I got a couple of games for the U20s, then that was pretty much my season done. I got back at the end of the season but the campaign was basically a write off. I only played ten games in the Development League all season and because I had played less than 12 games, I did not even get a medal for winning the league, nor get to hold the trophy, despite being captain in the first six! But I was very pleased for all the boys when we won it. It was a fantastic moment for all of them.

“It is very hard when you are out injured. You have to come in every day and get treatment and so I did not get a chance to see my family down the road much, but this is what I want to do and it is just one of the sacrifices you have to make.

“You have to try and stay positive when you have a long term injury. Being able to deal with the mental side of being out for a long time is just as important as recovering physically. My friends and family were really supportive and you need that. Being around the boys, they really help you as well. They keep you on track and keep up your desire for the game. The worst part of the day is in the morning when they are getting ready to go to training but you get left on the treatment table. That is hard.

“I can only hope that all my injury problems are behind me. I think I am stronger for the experience but I don’t want to go through that again. It is now time for me to show what I can do, push on and hopefully do enough win a new contract at the end of the season.

“I know it is a big year for me as it is my final season at U20 level. I played the first four games in the Development League but got injured again. I then came back in November and have had a good run in the 20s side since then. I have played in the middle of the park, played as a holding midfielder and as a more attacking midfielder. I have also scored six goals which is pleasing – I think the previous three years I have only scored two!

“I have also played as a centre-half. I quite enjoy playing in defence, at U13 and U14 level I played left and right-back, so I know the positions quite well.

“The gaffer and Tony both just told me to keep my head down and work hard and my chance would come along at some point. That chance came in the last two games and I feel I have done ok.

“I only found out an hour before the game that I would be starting against Ross County. It certainly was a bit of a shock when I heard the news. I think it was actually a good thing that I only found out late on. I actually felt more pressure in the Dundee game because I knew in advance that I would be playing and had longer to think about it.

“I don’t really get nervous. I am fortunate that it is something I have never had before a game. I felt comfortable at the start of the County game, especially with the way we started. But then Mark got sent off and we went a goal behind. I was absolutely sure I was the person who would have to come off when they made the substitution. I really thought it would be me so when I saw that it was not me, it gave me a huge lift. It gave me confidence because I thought the gaffer must have some trust in me to keep me on.

“The other big positive was my fitness. Having to play with ten men for so long on a heavy pitch was certainly a big test! My fitness has been a big struggle since I came up here and signed as a full-time professional because of the injuries. I feel I am at peak fitness now though. It is one thing recovering from an injury and being able to play but being match fit, being fit enough to play for the first team, that is another level.

“I have worked hard to get that match fitness. During the summer I did not really have any time off. Our sports scientist Graeme Kirk came down to my house to help me. He gave me a running programme to do. I was then in the gym for most of the week. I think that really helped me at the start of the season. Although I did miss a couple of months, my base fitness was there and I was able to kick on when I came back. I know what I need to do to get to where I want to be.

“My parents were really happy for me. It is just a shame they could not come up to the games and watch because of work. Ross County was a bit difficult anyway, because I only knew an hour before I was playing! Being able to watch me on TV doing well must have pleased them. For all they have done for me, it is good for them to see me doing well.

“All the boys have been great with me. They have really helped me through. Although I have been in the first team dressing room for the past two seasons, I still spend time in the U20 dressing room, keeping an eye on them! I am sure playing for the first team will show the other young lads that if they work hard, they have a chance of doing the same.”

As well as the AFC management team, Craig has always been highly thought of at International level. The 20-year-old has featured in the Scotland setup at under 15, under 16, under 17 levels and under 19 level too, scoring in the Victory Shield defeat to England in 2011.

“I actually think I played more games for Scotland last year than I did for Aberdeen. At U19 level, we had some European qualifiers as well as some friendlies. Again, that helps your confidence and helps you remain positive during the difficult days. I captained the Scotland U16s and U17s. I was injured and missed a year, so I did not play for the U18s but I was back for the 19s. The next level is the U21s.

“That is for the future though.

“The only aim between now and the end of the season is to play more games for the first team and then we will see what happens after that. The main thing for me is to stay healthy.”

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