Scott targets a silver lining for Aberdeen

SCOTT McKENNA insists finishing best of the rest with Aberdeen this season will mean as much as winning the Premiership title.

The Dons defender believes the race against champions Celtic was always going to be a losing battle for would-be challengers.

But the fight with Rangers and Hibs for second spot can provide a silver lining for McKenna and his club.

He said: “I know you don’t get a medal but when Celtic have the spending power they have, second was probably always our aim at the start of the season.

“We want to try to push Celtic as far as we can but ultimately they’ve got more quality.

“Rangers are above us on goal difference but it is still in our hands to finish second if we win our last four games. This weekend we’ll play first (against Hearts tomorrow) and if we do that we can put the pressure on the other teams.”

McKenna’s meteoric rise this season also comes with a nomination for PFA Scotland’s Young Player of the Year award.

And he admits it’s the icing on the cake in a campaign which has also brought two Scotland caps.

He said: “The season just seems to be getting better and better for me.

“This has been my first full campaign playing. From playing in the Under-20s at the start of the season, to getting a Scotland cap, to now being nominated for Young Player of the Year, it has been excellent.

“My ambition at the start of the season was to get into Aberdeen’s first BY GORDON PARKS team and play five to 10 games. I’ve surpassed that and things have got better and better.

“It makes it all the more special when it’s boys who have been playing against you who voted for you.”

Scotland’s end-ofseason tour of the Americas, which will include games against Peru and Mexico, is also on McKenna’s horizon and he’s desperate to be part of Alex McLeish’s squad.

He said: “I would love to be in that squad, I would be delighted if I was picked.

SCOTT MCKENNA

“There are older boys than me who have played a lot of games and could maybe do with a break.

“But when you’re at my age if I get an opportunity like that, it’s something I’d have to jump at.

“You can’t turn your country down.”

The only big negative was McKenna’s display against Motherwell in the 3-0 Scottish Cup semi-final loss.

Fingers were pointed his way but the painful experience will only make him stronger.

He said: “It was a massive opportunity and we wasted it.

“It’s about handling criticism because obviously there have been a lot of positives and it is one of the first times people have blamed me for a goal and I have blamed myself.”