It’s Dubai and mighty for Lewis
JOE LEWIS insists a return visit to Dubai this week can help Aberdeen replicate their flying start to 2017 when they closed in on second place in the Premiership.
The ex-Cardiff keeper hailed his club for pushing the boat out to send the Dons overseas during the winter break as they gear up for the second half of the campaign and their assault on the Scottish Cup.
Lewis, with 60 appearances for the Reds under his belt, feels the getaway is important for team bonding and to allow players carrying bumps and bruises the opportunity to recuperate in the sun.
He said: “It’s a lovely treat for all the players and whether it’s coincidence or not, we believe Dubai was the reason we played well in the second half of last season.
“It’s something the players are really appreciative of. Not all clubs get it and we have to realise how lucky we are.
“It seemed to help last term and we hope it has the same effect this season.”
Lewis has become a key player for boss McInnes since his arrival in Scotland.
The keeper played in every game last season and that led to a new contract that will keep him at Pittodrie until 2020.
Now he’s pleased to have completed another hectic December schedule especially with Rangers on Aberdeen’s tail in the Premiership table.
He said: “December is always a busy month for footballers but having a winter break is important for the health of the players.
“A lot of players have niggles and little injuries that if you didn’t have a break, you’d battle through and possibly pick up a longer-term problem.
“Last year we had eight games in December. So knowing in the back of your mind you’ve got that winter break can help you through this period.”
The ex-England Under-21 international, who also hasn’t missed a game this term, refuses to be complacent about his form and admits some errors have crept into his game.
He said: “I’ve made a couple more mistakes this season than I would have liked but I’m still happy with where I’m at.
“Hopefully, I can go into the second half of the season and maintain good consistency.
“Games like the one against Partick just before the break where I hardly had a save to make are just as enjoyable for me as ones where I’m making save after save.”
We feel Dubai was the reason we played well last season JOE LEWIS