Greg Halford arrives at Pittodrie with a great of experience behind him and in good shape. The defender, who has made over 500 senior appearances, has been training with West Bromwich Albion for the past couple of months to keep up his fitness. During his career he has netted almost 60 goals. A welcome addition to the squad at the business end of the season.

“I first learned two days ago that Aberdeen were interested. Then today it was a case of get yourself up here! So I was pretty much on the next fight up to get everything sorted.

“I spoke to the manager today once it was agreed I was coming. I have not spoken to any of the lads because I did not want to put a kiss of death on it and say I was coming up for the move to then fall through. I did though on the way up here a brief chat with Dom Ball and he was praising the set up and made me very excited about the move.

“I know of quite a few of the boys but there is a difference between knowing of them and actually knowing them if that makes sense. I did play with Stephen Gleeson at Birmingham and there are other players who I have played against down south.

“I think I have a lot to add to the team and the manager thinks so as well or he would not be bringing me in. You can’t really buy experience and having played over 500 games in my career, it is something I can turn to and use. I can advice the younger players which I enjoy doing.

“I have also scored a lot of goals, but I have not always been a defender. Every club I have been at, they have had a completely different opinion of where they want to play me. So I played for England U21s as a striker and a central midfielder but then I would go to Nottingham Forrest and play under Sean O’Driscoll a left back. So it is a bit strange. At Sheffield United I was even the substitute goalkeeper! I would be playing outfield but I would be the sub keeper as well and I would train with the keepers once a week.

“I think that versatility has not necessarily helped my career and has held me back to be honest. The amount of hype and the way people were speaking about me at the beginning of my career, I was only a right back and that was where I was playing every week.

“To then move positions to accommodate managers or fill in somewhere through injuries or suspension, it has hindered my career. It is like any other job, you change position and it is completely different.

“When I was getting to 25, 26 years old, I came to realise this is going to my career now so I am going to have tailor my training sessions around being as fit as I possibly can and honing in all the features of my game to make them as good as they possibly can (so I could adapt to different positions).

“During my career the highlights have been promotion last year with Cardiff. That was my first one to the Premiership. Playing at Wembley with Sheffield United in the play-off final even though we lost, but still getting to play there. And also playing for England U21s.

“Hopefully I can have some more highlights here.

“One of the main reasons I came up here to be honest was because playing in Scotland is something new. It is a fresh challenge and it is something completely different. I have never experienced playing here before and it is a good club as well. It is a big club up here.

“And the manager had a massive influence on the move as well. I know he has tried to get me in a couple of times before during my career, so he has finally got me!

“I am hoping that I will get my match fitness back very quickly. I manged to get a couple of U23 games at West Brom which did help. Darren Moore was magnificent with me. I was in there looking to get a contract and was there for four months.

“It is horrible training all week with no game to get involved in at the end of it. I have literally been pulling my hair out and sitting at home watching Sky Sports and watching my old teams thinking I should still be out there and doing what I love doing. And what I do best.

“I think that is another reason why the manager wanted to get me in. He knows the hunger that I would have now would be a lot more than what I would have had, say at the beginning of the season.

“I just want to get out on the pitch.”