Mason Hancock was the player who spoke to the press to preview the game against Stirling Albion on Tuesday. Young Mason spent part of last season on loan at the Forthbank Stadium.

“I really enjoyed my time there. It helped develop me as a player and I am very grateful to everyone at Stirling. Going back there as an Aberdeen player will be a bit of a weird feeling, but I am looking forward to seeing some of the boys again.

“Their manager Darren Young was the person who decided to play me at left-back. I had very much been a centre back through my time in the youth team here, and even my first team pre-season with the first team, Stephen Glass saw me as a centre-back.

“The reason behind the loan was to go out and get men’s football and as much as I wanted to play centre back at Stirling, it did not really matter. To develop I just needed to be on the pitch. Darren put me left back the first game I came on.

“He demands that the full-backs get up and down the pitch so it was new to me, but I really enjoyed it. Being up the pitch was a little strange at first, but it has done me the world of good because I really enjoy playing there.

“Coming through the Fulham Academy I played every position, played all over the pitch – striker, midfield, think I even went in goals once! So it was not completely new to me, but doing it at that level is completely different.

“I think playing left back suits my game, as I am comfortable on the ball. It is good that I am now able to cover two positions.

“Darren mentioned the Aberdeen connection quite often! We would speak after training. Obviously his brother Derek is still involved with the club, coaching one of the younger teams. He said Aberdeen was a good place for me to be, a good place for me to develop and I just needed to take my chance when it comes, which I am hopefully doing right now.

“The games are coming thick and fast and we need to be ready again for another test.

“The last couple of games have been good. We have managed to get full points, and that is the priority, even in these games that we are expected to win. You cannot underestimate them. They have a different style of play, and it can be frustrating sometimes when you are trying to break a team down but in the past couple of games we have created a lot of chances.

“For me now it is about finding some consistency with my performances. After the Peterhead game I was not too pleased having to come off with an injury. It is not how you picture your debut going. So the manager pulled me in for a good chat afterwards and he gave me another chance against Dumbarton. I showed him what I can do, but as I say it is about picking up a bit of consistency.”