Scott’s time to move on will come but that time is not now
Boss McInnes is not ready to say goodbye to starlet McKenna
DEREK McINNES admits Scott McKenna is destined to move on from Aberdeen to bigger things one day – but just not yet.
The 21-year-old defender came through Scotland’s two friendlies against Costa Rica and Hungary with flying colours and showed why Dons boss McInnes slapped down three January bids from Hull for the player, putting him on a contract until 2023.
Now, after being fast-tracked at Pittodrie and following his appearances for the national side, his value has soared.
And while McInnes prefers to view the kid as still at the early stages of his career, he is well aware bigger outfits than Hull could come calling soon.
As the Reds gaffer prepared for today’s visit of St Johnstone – and the return of keeper Joe Lewis after surgery on a knee – he insisted McKenna is going nowhere for the time being.
McInnes said: “I’m not here to talk about losing Scott. We have signed him on a long-term contract because we want to work with him.
“There are people who have seen he’s doing well at Aberdeen in the Premiership and now on the international scene.
“That just boosts his profile but we signed him on a longerterm deal earlier in the season then renegotiated it again recently because the intention is for him to remain with us.
“We understand there will be a time when it is right for him to move on but that is not now.
“I don’t want to get dragged into that because he has had a couple of good games for Scotland but he is going to do very well in his career.
“We thought Scott could be a permanent fixture in the team. His loan spells were good and bad.
“He had some good loans when he was younger but the loan to Ayr wasn’t a good one for him.
“At the start of the season we probably didn’t think this would be the campaign that he would come in and cement his place. But we still thought he was always going to be about Aberdeen.
“We would have always kept him and extended his contract but not to the extent we have done.” McInnes believes McKenna’s temperament is ideally suited to the pressures of top-tier football after he established himself as a first pick for the Dons week in, week out. The Kirriemuir kid also looks set to become a key part of Alex McLeish’s bid to revitalise the national team’s fortunes. And McInnes is certain he’ll adapt perfectly. He said: “The way he plays and the way it went for him in the international friendlies shows he is quietly effective as he just gets on with what’s ahead of him.
“Scott came into our team and it was clear he wasn’t letting anyone get his shirt.
“And he has never had a performance where you would consider taking him out.
“In the two Scotland games it was just an extension of how he has been for us.
“Scott handled it brilliantly but I believe he will handle any scenario, whether it’s a qualifying game, a cup final, playing in front of 80,000, he will deal with it.
“He treats every game the same and he has a nice calmness to his work. Physically he has developed into a proper man as you saw against a strong centre forward in the Hungary game.
“Scott has everything and he just needs to go about his business the way he has been and I am sure he’ll be recognised.”
Keeper Lewis, injured in the 2-0 defeat to Rangers at Ibrox in mid-January, has made a full recovery and featured in a development game at St Mirren last Monday.
But midfielder Niall McGinn will miss today’s match and possibly the trip to Motherwell next Tuesday night because of a groin injury.
Meanwhile, attacking winger Greg Stewart, whose loan period from Birmingham ends in the summer, has pleaded for another chance to show McInnes and the Dons fans he’s worthy of a starting place.
Stewart’s contract with the Blues runs until the summer of 2019 and he still has to meet the club’s new gaffer Garry Monk, appointed three weeks ago.
The ex-Dundee player has made just 15 starts and hit two goals for the Dons.
He said: “It’s just not happened for me at Pittodrie. I expected myself to be a lot better.
“I’m just looking at my personal contribution to Aberdeen with 10 games to go.
“I hope I can turn a not great season into a good season.
“I still believe in myself. Hopefully if I get the opportunity I can show that.”