Derek McInnes, Niall McGinn and Jonny Hayes on RedTV

Derek McInnes |

The Manager started by giving the latest team news “Chris Clark is making progress but is back out running which is great. He’s working hard as he always does. Barry saw the specialist in London on Tuesday and got an injection in his knee to try and speed things along a bit. As we expected the surgeon is happy but it’s taking a bit of time and sadly Barry will have to wait a bit longer to get involved. Hopefully after the international break he will be ready to go.

“I think we’re all eager to get going again. We weren’t at our best on Monday but we still dug out a result. One thing about these boys is that they don’t know they are beat and the reaction from going behind was terrific. We just need to make sure that we learn from that game – we need to make sure we play with a real tempo and impose ourselves on the game.

“What we will face is an equally determined opponent on Saturday and I’m pretty sure it will be tough going as it always is.

“I love the fact we’ve got a great level of support. It’s brilliant for the players running out on any match-day knowing that level of support is there home and away and we’re really grateful for it. We’re determined to do well for them, the players really appreciate their support as ever and hopefully we can send them back down from Dingwall with three points.

“I think when you’re on a six game unbeaten run there has obviously been a good level of performance from the players in the team and it does make it that bit more challenging when you’re picking the team but for the right reasons it’s good for a manager to have players available. I will change a winning team, you have to respect the opponent and every game is different. We’re fortunate we’ve got some quality players coming back but the ones who got their opportunity when those boys were out showed great quality in that run so it’s a good dilemma to have.”

The manager also said when asked about extending Michael Hector’s loan spell, “We’re grateful we managed to get Michael on a six month loan but any extension would be the decision of his parent club, Reading.”

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Niall McGinn |

“I think it’s always nice to get back playing with the boys again and to be contributing so it was nice to get that 15 minutes the other night although I was disappointed in myself and I probably should have scored but that’ll obviously come over time, just getting your fitness and your sharpness back so yeah I’m more than happy to be back.

“It has been frustrating for me personally because I’ve been injured but it’s been great otherwise because the team’s been doing really well and to get into the next round of cup has been a massive positive as well as beating Inverness. Things have been great on the field and we’re unbeaten in six games so things can only progress and get better.

“I think competition for places is a good thing. I think as professional footballers that’s a very good thing for the likes of myself, Willo Flood and Barry Robson who have been out injured, all experienced players, if you’ve got competition for places, players are going to work a lot harder.

“I think it just shows you the strength and depth of the squad that the players who have come in have done very well, even the younger lads have been excellent, so it’s good to see and obviously a great positive and it’s a great thing for the manager to have.

“[Ross County] is going to be a very difficult game. Last season we struggled up there and in the other games against them. It will be tough but we know ourselves if we keep playing to our strengths and keep moving the ball and getting our flair players into action, we can definitely cause them problems.

“I think Ross County have had a disappointing start to the season as they’ve conceded goals but we know it’s going to be another very difficult game but it’s one we’re looking forward to. I think after maybe a wee blip on Monday night it’s always good to have another game coming fast and that’s Saturday.

“Any game against us has been a big game for other teams. When coming to Pittodrie it’s a big scalp to come here and take anything off us. I think us being away from home, we always play nice, attractive football and teams sort of come out more and try and play against us whereas when we’re playing at home, most of the time teams sort of sit back and let us come at them. So I think it’ll benefit us with them coming and trying to play as well as us.

“The backing has been excellent, even from last season the away support was always great and the numbers at home games have been absolutely unbelievable as well so hopefully, as long as the performances are good, the fans will keep travelling in numbers. We’ll definitely bring another good support on Saturday. The fans have been brilliant and long may it continue.”

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Jonny Hayes |

“Ross County have lost a few players but have brought in some decent replacements. It could be playing against Aberdeen makes them play better, as was the case with St Mirren. They will look at it, see they are playing an inform Aberdeen side, want to match up against us and if they get a good result they can then kick on. It is always a tough place to go. I have been up there on numerous occasions with Inverness and Aberdeen and it is always a difficult place to go. They never make it easy for you. It is a tight pitch.

“I feel myself that my form has been better. I know myself how I have played when I come off the pitch. There have been a few games where I have not been too pleased with myself but overall I feel my game has improved (from last season).

“It is difficult to find consistently being a winger. You want to influence the game. For example on Monday night I did not enjoy the game because a lot of things did not come off for me. It is probably the first game this season where I did not create chances for the lads. All I can do is look forward to the next game

“Under the manager and Doc they have given me a lot of confidence. If something does not come off the first three times and I lose the ball, I still know the fourth time if I beat him (the defender) I could create a chance that could lead to a goal. They have given me the confidence to keep going in a game, to keep taking players on and trying things.

“The belief the manager has in me helps my game a lot.

“The competition for places has improved everyone’s game. You see it with the standard in training. There is also a better standard of players who have come in and the young boys are just getting better and better. Unfortunately the manager can only pick eleven players.

“The spirit is very good at the club. Yes it does help when you go on a good run and win games because it creates a good atmosphere but the manager has created an environment at the club, not just in the dressing room, where if we went on a bad run we would still all stick together.

“Everyone is in it together. Not just the eleven on the pitch, the staff in the dressing room but everyone at the club.”

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