Ryan Duncan, named in the Scotland U21 squad today along with Connor Barron, spoke to the press at lunchtime. Ryan also this week spoke to Red Matchday magazine.

 

There’s been a lot to enjoy from the Dons these past few months but among the most pleasing aspects has been the emergence of another academy product as a first team regular, with Ryan Duncan stringing together a number of fine performances as a regular starter in Barry Robson’s team. Ryan has featured in 30 games this term, nine of them starts and his growing confidence has been a real feature of recent weeks.

Understandably, the 19-year-old is having the time of his life.

“I’m enjoying it a lot. I’ve waited a long time for this chance so I’ve loved every minute of it. I was lucky enough to be a part of a really good run as well, which just added to it. I just want to stay in the team now.

“Earlier on in the season, I was a sub for most games. Being on the bench, mentally it can be a little bit frustrating, because you’re just eager to get on the pitch to show people what you can do. You’d pick playing any day over sitting on the bench. But I knew that if I just kept on training well that I would get the opportunity at some point.”

Making the step up from the bench to the starting XI saw Ryan follow in the recent footsteps of Connor Barron, Jack MacKenzie and Calvin Ramsay. It was an exciting opportunity for the youngster, even if it came at a time when the Dons’ fortunes were at a low ebb.

“It has certainly been some season.

“We did go through a very bad spell at the start of the year and coming into the team then, there was a lot of pressure on the team and the club. I was part of Darvel. It was very difficult, to be honest, especially because we had the Hearts defeat before that. It was very tough. It wasn’t a good time. Everyone’s confidence just kind of went straight down as well. But I think the way we’ve reacted since that has been very good. We have showed a lot of character to turn the season around. We know the way we played in those games, that wasn’t us.

“What we’ve seen in the last few months is how we probably should have been playing at that time. We’ve just got to keep it going. It wasn’t a good experience, it was horrible, but at the same time I look back now and realise experiencing something like that so young, I think it only helps me for the future. It will make me stronger and I certainly never want to be part of anything like that again.

“When you first go in as a younger player, people make allowances for you, but the more games you play, the pressure does add up a bit more, because there’s a bit more expectation on you. You’ve had that run of games, so you’re expected to play better.

“What I very quickly noticed was that the standard that you’re playing against is a lot higher than in development football or League One. I was on loan at Peterhead last season, a spell I really enjoyed despite getting injured in my first training session with them! But I still played a good number of games and I am grateful to Peterhead for giving me that opportunity. It was a steep learning curve, playing with older guys, some of whom had played at the top level. It was men’s football.

“Playing in the Premiership though, I can see the difference and the step up in quality. The number of chances you get in any game is very little compared with that and when you get that chance, you have to take it. It’s definitely been really good for me, I can only learn from it.”

Not only has Ryan had to make the step up in quality, in the last couple of months in particular, he has also had to adapt to playing a different role in the team.

“Usually I’m a winger, but I’ve played in the number 10 role quite a lot and there are a lot of defensive duties from the front. I’m almost the main presser really, if I go, then everyone has to go! But then once I go, if they go with me, because I’m a midfielder I have to get back into position as well. There is a lot of running involved, but I’m happy to do that.

“The way we play, it’s meant to be exciting and fast, but we want to press high as well. A lot of times it’s going to come off but sometimes it won’t and that’s the risk you take but if you win it back then you potentially win it back in and around their box so there’s a good chance of scoring.

“My role can change from game to game, what formation the opposition plays and stuff like that. For example, Rangers are very good at rotations, different midfielders coming in, so when we played at Ibrox, I just stuck my position and whoever came in and around there, then that’s my man. Sometimes I go on to the centre-half as well. It’s whoever is in your area really, you just stick with them.

“I’ve moved about everywhere to be fair. But for the last few years, probably from when I was about 15 or 16, I became a winger. I’ve maybe played in the middle a few times, I always play in the middle with Scotland but usually a bit deeper, so I’m used to playing different positions. I found it challenging to be fair, because the role that I play, it can be hard to get the ball to feet, and that’s the way I want to play, I want to get on the half turn and play. It’s hard because you don’t get much time, but it’s enjoyable. On the wing, it’s a lot of one-v-ones and you get a bit more time, whereas in the middle, it can be quite congested. You have to think quicker, which is good for my development.”

Barry Robson has played a considerable part in Ryan’s development through the ranks at Pittodrie, so what does he make of the manager and the way he has stamped his imprint on the first team in the last few months?

“I worked with the manager a little bit before Covid, before I was full time and then a bit more when I came in full-time. Last season was when I worked with him the most, when I started playing with the 18s and then even when I was at Peterhead as well, I was still training with him here, so he knows me very well. I enjoy working under him. He is hard on you, but you know he wants to get the best out of you.

“The way we he wanted to play with the 18s is the exact same with the first team, the training is the same, so I’m used to it. Some of the other boys were maybe a bit shocked when he first came in. It’s a very exciting way to play, but you have to be extremely fit to do it.

“Training can be hard, sometimes in the moment, you can be a little bit annoyed or whatever, but you know that he wants the best for you. I’ve only had one preseason with him and that was pretty hard. If he wants to do extra runs, he’ll make you do extra runs. It doesn’t matter what sport scientists say. But if you come in, and you run and you work hard, then three or four weeks into preseason, then he’ll maybe take it down a notch. Once you get to that level of fitness he wants, then he’s happy. He wants us to be the fittest team in the league. I think he’ll do that as well.

“The training schedule is perfect for us to become fitter, especially with the way it has changed. To begin with I found it a bit weird being off on Thursday, two days before the game, but now that we’ve done it for a couple of months, I’ve used to it and I prefer it that way. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday are working days, Thursday to recover and then Friday is just match prep, focused on the game. You feel better going into Saturday.”

There’s been no shortage of big games in Ryan’s young career already, but they’re something he takes very much in his stride.

“I always get nervous in the changing room before the game but as soon as I go onto the pitch I’m fine. I used to be a lot worse, but now I’ve played a few times in front of big crowds, it’s better. The Rangers game, I thought I would be more nervous than what I was. As soon as the game starts, I’m quite relaxed. I’m feeling more confident now. When you get a run of games and the manager keeps you in the team, it gives you a boost of confidence and it makes you play better as well.”

While it has been something of a honeymoon season for Ryan in many respects, he’s well aware that when he comes back for preseason, the expectations of him will be much higher than they were last summer.

“It will be quite different coming back next season having played first team games and not just being a young player any more. At the start of this season, I was technically classed as a first team player, but I didn’t feel like it. But I don’t think this will change my mindset really. There’s a lot of competition for places in the team and I’ve still got to work as hard as I possibly can to stay in it. I’m in the first team dressing room but some of the time, I’ll still go through to the reserve one and stay there for a while. I’ve got Shinnie’s banter just next from me, it’s nice to get away from that! Seriously though, it is a brilliant dressing room to be part of. It is my first year in there, but many of the boys say it is the best dressing room they have been part of, and you can understand why. There is a real togetherness.

“When we come back, we will have European football to look forward to. That will be awesome. It’s something I’m really looking forward to. I’ve been to a lot of European qualifiers at Pittodrie when I was growing up, and there’s just a great buzz about the place. A summer night, under the lights as well, they’re special. It would be some feeling to be on the pitch for it. Real Sociedad was one of the first ones I went to, but I went to quite a few because we had a long run of years where we were in the qualifiers. It’ll be good to get that back.

“The fans especially deserve it. They have stuck with us through the good and bad times this season.”