Ross County | preview with Adam Rooney

Adam Rooney |

The Dons striker previewed the Ross County game tomorrow, number five in the month of December:

“I personally prefer having games. We don’t tend to do as much training, when we do it’s short and sharp. The training pitches at this time of year are sometimes not be the best either, the weather can make it a challenge to do your work.

“If we get a win you’re then buzzing to get into the next game, but even if you don’t get a positive result, you then want to get back onto the pitch as soon as possible, to bounce back straight away.

“Games are the most enjoyable part of being a professional footballer. Yes, it can be tough at times, especially when they are coming thick and fast with so many games in a short space of time, but in general, the lads are ok with it.

“We recognise that having to play so many games in December is tough for the fans. It is asking a lot of them, so we really appreciate all the supporters who are making the trip to Dingwall tomorrow.

“Tuesday night was frustrating for everyone at the club, but there is nothing you can do about it. You just have to get on with it. It is the first time I have experienced it as a player. Once the lights went out for a second time, we knew the game was unlikely to carry on and the correct decision was taken in the end.

“The players who were playing had to stay focussed and concentrate on going back out. For the rest of us in the dressing room, we all knew exactly what was happening because Reynolds (who is an engineer) was explaining it all in great detail!

“The one positive thing about not having the game is that everyone is feeling fresh and raring to go tomorrow. It will be a very tough game. They have had good results at home against Hearts and Rangers and played well against Celtic.

“When I was at Inverness, I remember it being a very difficult place to go. It is a tight, narrow pitch and the fans really get behind them.

“Since I have been at Aberdeen, although we have had some very tough games up there, we have also had some good results as well, especially last time when we went down to ten men when Mark got sent off early on and then they scored with the free-kick. Coming back from 1-0 down with ten men was a great performance. We scored three but could have had more. We played very well but it is going to take a similar performance on Saturday to get a result. Hopefully we will be at our best and can get the three points.

“2016 for me personally has had its highs and lows, as is the case for any footballer. Every year has its ups and down. I just try and concentrate on the positives. The team has had some great results over the past year, I have scored a few goals and I have been involved with the Irish squad a few times too which was a great experience. In general, I am loving my football at Aberdeen on the pitch, and off the pitch, the family and I could not be happier.

“I have been told I have five or six assists this season. That’s not like me! That is more than I have had combined for the previous two seasons! It’s a new dimension to my game. As a striker, your main thing is thinking about scoring goals but if you can set up a few as well then great. Hopefully there are some more assists to come as well as some more goals.

“I enjoy being the main man to score the goals. It is not a pressure I mind. Every year I want to be the top scorer, however many goals that is. I had 28 two seasons ago and 20 last season despite being injured for a number of months and missing quite a number of games during the run in. I want to try and get back up there this year, (he is on nine at the moment), there is still plenty of time and games to go.

“This will be my first experience of the winter break. It will be something different. I think when I left Inverness, they might have had one for one season before it was scrapped. It will be nice to get back home to see all the family at New Year.

“The fact we were back on the 14th of June, and it has been something similar the past few seasons, there has not been a massive amount of time off for the boys, especially Niall who has struggled to get two days off in the past four years! So it will be good to get a little break, and you do need it. You need a chance for the body to shut down for a couple of days. The players who have been carrying little knocks will get a chance to recover and we will all be raring to go again.

“Before then though we have four big games starting with Ross County tomorrow. We want to head into the break with some momentum.”