“For Niall's first touch, to set it up and pluck it out of the air so quickly, he's got no real time to let the ball drop. To connect with the ball so cleanly it's a fantastic piece of a skill.

“Niall has scored brilliant goals for us over the years but that one was right up there with the best.

“His second goal as well, it's a great ball from Jonny on the move.

“He produced that real moment of quality and in terms of the game, it took us a while to get going and get into our stride.

“We anticipated that Dundee would come up and play 5-4-1 and play the game in front of us. We knew we'd have to move the ball a bit quicker and we did.

“But once we got in front I never felt we were going to do anything other than go on and win the game, and that's credit to the players.

“I think the pitch chewed up a bit, then I thought we had to play the conditions a bit and had to try and get in behind them, no more so than the third goal.

“There were some good performers tonight and it continues our strong run, that is five wins out of five in all competitions and we now move on.

“If that is a taster, then Niall is going to be a very influential player for us during the rest of the campaign.

“Niall’s a happy boy at the minute, we gave him two weeks off and he's come back with four goals. I think there will be a few more wanting two weeks off now!

“He has got that sharpness and spark back into his game and if that is a taster for the rest of the season, I think Niall is going to be an influential player for us.

“We spoke to Niall, and we spoke to his agent. We're respectful that he's got a lot of things to consider but the good thing for us is that he's never indicated he wants to leave.

“He wants to take his time with his decision, because it is a big decision. His love for the club is undeniable and the way we all feel for him, we'd love to have him around a bit longer.

“It means I can go to a game tomorrow feeling good about our work, it means the boys can have tomorrow off. “We've still got that game in hand as well, at home to Motherwell. There's lots of football still to be played and every time you get an opportunity to get ahead of the team in front of you, you've got to try and take it. We've done that tonight.

“We've just got to try and prepare for the game at Celtic Park. We're pleased with the run that we're on. I still think there's more to come from us. I think there's little bits and pieces we can tighten up on, but the signs are good at the minute.”

The manager also confirmed that James Maddison will not be returning to Aberdeen for the second half of the season.

“We enjoyed working with him and he is going to go on and have a good career. We wish him well and we thank Norwich for allowing James to come up here.”

“We enjoyed working with him and he is going to go on and have a good career. We wish him well and we thank Norwich for allowing James to come up here.”