Captain Jack only focused on delivering for Aberdeen

FOR Ryan Jack, claiming a place alongside some famous names of Aberdeen’s past is taking precedence over concerns about his future. The Pittodrie captain’s contract expires at the end of this season, with no fresh agreement yet reached.

Circumspect about what might happen next, the midfielder offers no certainty about whether his 17-year association with the club will continue.

Jack, though, insists his focus will not stray from the opportunity at Hampden today. Victory over Hibernian would transport Aberdeen into a second major final of the season and place them 90 minutes away from a first Scottish Cup triumph in 27 years.

On a personal level, it provides a chance — possibly the last chance — for the 25-year-old to lift a trophy as captain of the Pittodrie club. Russell Anderson still had that status when Jack was part of the side that clinched the 2014 League Cup.

‘Growing up through the ranks at Aberdeen, you see clips of guys like Willie Miller and Alex McLeish,’ said Jack.

‘Obviously, I was lucky enough to play with Russell. They were legends at the club.

‘When you get the captaincy of a club like Aberdeen, that’s what you envision.

‘You want to be remembered for lifting a trophy. I’m no different so, hopefully, we can do all we can to try to get this Cup.

‘It’s a goal, an aim for myself. When I got the captaincy off the manager and we had a chat, I said that being captain or not I wanted to try to win more trophies for the club.

‘Winning the League Cup in 2014 was special. You want more days like that. We have not managed it yet but we have a chance this season — and it is up to us to grab it with both hands.

‘It has been a long time since the club has won the Scottish Cup. But a lot was made of it being too long to wait for a trophy before 2014. We hadn’t won silverware in so long (19 years) before then.’

Asked if success in the final could be the perfect way to sign off as an Aberdeen player, Jack replied: ‘I’ve not really thought about it in that way. I’ve just thought that I wanted to win a trophy this season.

‘Whether the Scottish Cup Final would be my last game for the club or not, I’m still going to do everything I can to try and win it.’

The midfielder was linked with Rangers earlier this month, a move manager Derek McInnes claimed his on-field leader wouldn’t be interested in.

‘I’ve not heard anything,’ said Jack (right) on the topic.

‘For any matter, it will be between me, Aberdeen and the manager to sort that out.

‘This week, it is all about trying to get the club to a cup final. It is not about my future or anyone else who is out of contract. There will be a right time and place for that.

‘There is no panic, or that I’m going here or there, it’s something happening between ourselves and will remain that way.’

Jack does not, however, attempt to downplay the magnitude of the decision in front of him. Leaving Aberdeen would mean breaking ties that run deep into childhood.

‘I have been with this club since I was eight years old and football has been my life,’ he reflected.

‘I have been right through with Aberdeen on a long journey. But what’s going to happen next year will sort itself out.

‘I’m out of contract so I’m not sitting here saying it is comfortable and I don’t worry about it. Of course you do.

‘Anyone who is going to be out of a job would worry. I have a family and I want to look after them and do the best for them. But it is going to get sorted out soon, the sooner the better hopefully.’

Any interest from Ibrox would, of course, have the potential to bring Jack into the same squad as Joe Garner. The two clashed in Rangers’ recent 3-0 win at Pittodrie, with the English striker taking a theatrical tumble when Jack squared up to him.

‘It wasn’t the greatest situation,’ admitted Jack. ‘There was a lot of hype in the game. It had that build-up and it was intense.

‘I went in for a tackle, the whistle had gone. There was a reaction and it happened. I’m not going to go in and headbutt someone. I just put my head in there to square up or whatever.

‘There was nothing in it. We shook hands after the game and it is all part of the game.

‘If the ref had sent me off, I would have been absolutely gutted. ‘Sometimes you just get caught up in the heat of the game and the atmosphere. When we squared up and I saw him go down, my instinct was: “Hopefully I don’t get sent off because I have not done anything.” Thankfully, the ref saw it wasn’t intentional.’ While that incident was replayed time and again on social media, Hibs striker Jason Cummings has taken centre stage on Twitter in the build-up to the semi-final. His madcap video as ‘Cumdog’, staging a mock bout with Impact Wrestling star Grado, raised a smile in the opposition dressing room.

‘I saw Jason’s video and it was interesting to say the least,’ grinned Jack. ‘They seem to have a good bit of banter and a good team spirit amongst them and that’s important.’