GMS plays my position ahead of me but even I want him to stay
we have to hold on to if we’re going to make that big push at the end of the season.
“In training I look up to him. He gives me as much advice as he can. I’d like to be playing with him, I think we’d work well together, but we’ll see how it goes. He’s always passing on tips. He’s not the loudest guy, but even just looking at him and the stuff he does you can learn from that and it’s brilliant to see.
“He’s not the loudest on the pitch or off it but he’ll always help you, he’s always willing, and just looking at him and how he is around the place I try to keep an eye on him. Hopefully I can bring that into my game too.”
Mackay-Steven has not played for Aberdeen since he was carried off the Hampden pitch in a stretcher.
That was on December 2 towards the end of the firsthalf of the Betfred Cup final with Celtic. He had bravely gone for a header and his head took the full force of Dedryck Boyata.
Mackay-Steven was laid out cold and McLennan, who was put on as his replacement, can still remember that horrible feeling as he watched his team-mate being treated by medics.
“It looked grim at the time,” said McLennan. “It was gutting for Gaz. We do need him in the team, he’s a great talent, and I just look up to him as much as I can and hopefully I can just learn as much as I can from him.
“It’s great to see him back. He showed his class again in the second half when he came on in Dubai.”