DON’T HEDGE YOUR BETS
Del tells Ryan to rip it up and earn a spot at Euros
DEREK McINNES has told on-form Ryan Hedges he has to rip things up for the next four months if he is to have any chance of breaking into the Wales squad for the Euro 2020 finals.
The midfielder has been one of the Dons’ most creative performers this season.
The Aberdeen boss has been delighted with his Welshman’s performances – but reckons he will have to maintain that level right up until Ryan Giggs names his squad for the World Cup qualifiers in March.
If he doesn’t get in by then his club manager knows he will struggle to make the Welsh party for next summer’s tourney.
McInnes said: “I think he has good players ahead of him in that position.
“His manager at Wales, Ryan Giggs, has included him in a few squads. He maybe went off the radar a bit with them but Ryan and I have spoken about it. The next few months are important.
“The work he does between now and that March get-together is vital. It will be difficult to get into that squad after March.
“Ryan has to maintain his levels, keep scoring goals and assisting and being the difference in big games.
“That will be the best thing for him. He has certainly given himself the chance to be involved and that is all we can ask for. If he maintains his form hopefully that reward is there for him.”
Hedges came in from Barnsley on a pre-contract in the summer of 2019. He hit the ground running but then lost form and spent the majority of the campaign on the sidelines.
McInnes reckons it was something of a culture shock moving to Scotland.
He said: “I do sometimes think players take time to settle, with the greatest of respect to where Ryan has been, coming here and what is expected of him.
“He started last season well. His goals and assists were good at the start of the campaign.
“Then after a few poorer performances he lost a bit of confidence and wasn’t getting selected as much. Maybe his season petered out.”
Hedges came back in after the lockdown and has looked a different player. He has muscled his way into the Dons team and offered them hem a real cutting edge dge with his creativity and goals. McInnes es thinks the 25-yeararold hasn’t looked d back since he came e off the bench and d scored a hat-trick in the Europa League win over Faroese minnows NSI Runavik. Now Aberdeen will look to him as they try to take revenge on St Mirren in the league, after their Betfred Cup exit last weekend. McInnes said: “He has benefited from a strong start, trusted his body and benefited from playing the games. “Confidence has played a big part. Getting the hat-trick in Europe was massive and he hasn’t looked back from there. “Against Hamilton he was the one player on the pitch with real pace and he useduse it time and ttimei again . Confidence C for that th type of player pla is key. “They can be up and down but he is getting con consistency of selsel eection and performance.” perfo Dons gaffer McInnes