Here is a little sneak preview of what is inside Saturday’s RedMatchday Magazine:
Lawrence Shankland:
… “Two years ago while I was playing for Queens Park, I worked during the day in a factory. I was working in the McAlpine factory in Hillington, making items for the plumbing trade – the plastic bits under the sink, I made them.
… “It was difficult balancing work and football but it taught me a lot. I had to be at work for 7.45am but I had a bit of travelling to do in the morning. I was up about six and then after work, I would have to get the train to training. They were very long days.
… “It was hard but it was good as well because it made me want to be a professional player even more. I really do appreciate how lucky I am to be a full time player. It really is the best job in the world, even on the hardest days.
… “I have been doing well so I am really enjoying my football which helps. Paul Sheerin is a brilliant coach, I really enjoy his training. There is a lot of talk about how good the first team dressing room is and the spirit and harmony within it. The U20 dressing room is exactly the same. We all get on very well. There is no one in there who thinks they are better than everyone else.”
…. “Cammy Smith and myself seemed to have clicked this year. We have built up a good understanding. We know where each other is on the pitch all the time. He always seems to be around about me, which suits my game. If I am playing the lone striker role, I need someone to get up and support and he has helped me out a lot this season. I can lay the ball off to him. He is a very clever player and makes a lot of very intelligent runs.”
… “I know I have to be patient. I am not in any great rush. This is only my second season as a full time professional. I have come a long way in the last couple of years, from part time work to winning a new contract at Aberdeen. It’s all positive”.
Donervorn Daniels:
“The support I’ve had since I came here has been incredible. The welcome they gave me on social media and the support of the boys in the dressing room has helped me a lot and gave me the encouragement to go out there and enjoy my football. I would like to thank the fans for giving me so much love early on. We have to keep focused and now concentrate on the league. We have enough in that dressing room to do well in every game we play between now and the end of the season. We have to stay strong as a team and keep working hard.”
Darren Moore is the Professional Development Phase Coach at West Bromwich Albion. He spoke to RedMatchday exclusive about Donervorn:
“For us at the Albion, we see Donervorn as one of our elite players, he’s one that’s coming through the ranks with bags of potential. If he continues to work and progress as he has done, then at some point in the future, I can see him becoming an established player in the first team here in the Premier League.
“He’s a very athletic player, he’s strong as you can see from his physique, but he isn’t just about power. He plays out with the ball well, he’s comfortable with it at centre-half with both feet, he can pass it well. But his chief job is to defend and he’s good at that because he’s a strong boy, he competes very well in the air. He has good organisational skills and he also has a real hunger and desire to do well.
Kenny McLean:
“Coming to Aberdeen, the demands and expectations are higher than they are at the other end of the table. I am coming to a club on the up and I think it will make me a better player the way Aberdeen play. They have an attacking style, playing against them is never easy and I hope to get in the team and get in amongst it.
“I think I can fit in well. Aberdeen create a lot of chances and score a lot of goals and I can just add more of that. I think this will give me a better springboard to boost my international hopes too, to further and better my career.
Derek McInnes
“I’m delighted with what we achieved in the recent transfer window. In Graeme Shinnie’s case, we’re bringing in a very good player and I’m looking forward to working with him. He’s still an Inverness player just now, and we respect that, but he’s a player we’re all looking forward to seeing in an Aberdeen shirt.
“I believe, like Graeme, Kenny McLean is the type of player that a club like Aberdeen should be signing. They are both 23, with a great deal of SPFL Premiership experience, have captained their clubs and will be spending the next phase of their careers in Aberdeen shirts and we’re delighted with that.
“Donervorn Daniels is someone we’ve been well aware of for some time and we saw from his debut, his goal aside, that he’s a player who is going to have a good career and we’re delighted to get him on board.”
Russell Anderson
“With the cups out of the way for us now, we know exactly what games we face to the end of the season. Having seen our 10 game unbeaten run come to an end at Hampden, we need to start another run like that as soon as possible and get back to keeping the clean sheets that we had so many of up until recently.
“There’s still plenty left for us to enjoy in this season, so now is the time for everybody to look forward to what we can achieve rather than over their shoulder at what might have been.”
RedMatchday Issue 17 is available from the programme sellers in and around the ground. It will be on sale from the AFC Club Shop and you can also buy a copy online by clicking here
