EASY TIGERS
Dons star Scott reveals mates told him he’s not worth Hull’s £750k bid EASTER ROAD, TODAY, 3PM
SCOTT McKENNA insists he’s in no rush to leave Aberdeen and head for the big time down south.
But he admits hitting the Premier League or the Championship in England is firmly in his sights as he continues to gain valuable experience in Scottish football’s top flight.
The defender, subject of three failed bids from Hull during the January transfer window, has made a name for himself after just 24 appearances for the Dons with his robust tackling catching the eye of Nigel Adkins who was desperate to take him to the Tigers.
Despite increasing their efforts to land him – the last bid was thought to be around £750,000 – McKenna stayed put, with his pals telling him: “There’s no way you’re worth that.”
As the 21-year-old centre-back prepared for the clash against Hibs at Easter Road today he explained how Reds boss Derek McInnes told him about the offers – but they had fallen short of what he valued him at.
He said: “The manager pulled me over when we were at our winter training camp in Dubai and said there had been an offer but it was nowhere near what they wanted.
“Unless there was an offer that was over the top then I was going nowhere. So right from the start I knew I was going to still be an Aberdeen player.
“I’ve only played 20-odd games in the top team here so I’m in no hurry to leave. And while it’s nice to know other clubs are interested I just have to keep my feet on the ground. “The aim is to just keep doing what I’ve been doing and concentrate on getting better. I was fully focused as there was nothing I could do to affect it and my pals were slagging me saying, ‘There’s no way you’re worth that’. “You do have moments when you think about it but I am happy here.” Kirriemuir-born McKenna still has three-and-a-half-years left on his contract and accepts McInnes’s view he should stick around the north east for at least 80 more games.
It’s then he feels he’ll be ready to play football at a higher level.
He was also keen to ensure he didn’t move too early and fail but did accept Ryan Fraser’s transfer from the Dons to Bournemouth, then in League One, five years ago paid off handsomely for the winger, now performing in the Premier League with the Cherries.
He added: “Everyone is hopeful they’ll get down south at some point and play in the Championship or the Premier League but I want it to be when the time is right. I want to be ready to be a first-choice player.
“I don’t want to go south and sit about as a squad player then come back up here after a couple of years when I’ve been forgotten about.
“I want to go down there and make a name for myself. Ryan joined Bournemouth when they were in League One but if they hadn’t got up to the top tier what would people say then?
“There are no guarantees in football as you just have to cross that bridge when you feel the time is right so we’ll see what happens in the future.”
McKenna reckons a requirement for competing in the Premiership is concentration with any lapses being punished severely and he is adamant he and his colleagues can’t afford to switch off against Neil Lennon’s Hibees.
He said: “If you switch off for a second a striker has made a run in behind you and is in on goal.
“That’s the main thing I’ve found difficult as you will get punished. And of course there’s much more pressure playing for Aberdeen.”