Graeme Shinnie spoke to the media on Thursday as the team returned to pre-season training.

“It was an easy decision.

“It wasn’t so easy to get the deal done as a lot of stuff had to be sorted out, but I was grateful that it was all done in time for me to start pre-season with the rest of the lads.

“It wasn’t the best kept secret in the world that I wanted to come back, and I am very pleased it has all happened so quick.

“For me, I have came back to a place where I feel a lot more appreciated.

“I know what the club is about and have a great relationship with everyone here as well as the fans.

“At my previous club I felt like I was having good games but then getting dropped.

“It wasn’t the greatest of feelings not getting to play as much as I had hoped and for me at my age it was all about trying to get in the thick of it and play as much as I can. That was my thought process back in January when I first came back on loan. The new manager (Kolo Toure) came in and I didn’t start a game under him.

“Before he had came in I had played in the previous game against Blackpool just before the World Cup break, and even got man of the match. I thought him coming in would then give me the chance to kick on, but it obviously had the opposite effect.

“I think I did say in an interview last season that I could always see myself coming back as it was always a vision of mine.

“Leaving the club in 2019 was a difficult decision, but was one that I felt I had to make in order to go and challenge myself down south. But I feel like I have done that, so it was the right time to come back. I am happy with the way things have went and I am looking forward to the future.”

“I wanted to come back and reap the rewards of securing third place last season.

“I enjoyed playing in the qualifiers last time, as it is something different to British football and Scottish football. But it was hard when I was here last time, as you had to try and get through four qualifiers to make it to the groups.

“I think we had three play-off ties and then in the fourth one there were teams dropping in from the Champions League. It was extremely tough back then.

“It was frustrating that we weren’t able to push it towards the play-offs, but to be back now and to enjoy guaranteed group stage football is a very exciting challenge and is one that I am really looking forward to.”