McKenna will only leave on Dons’ terms, says McInnes
DereK mcINNeS never doubted Scott mcKenna’s ability to adapt to international football but is equally certain Aberdeen can see off increased interest in the player after his displays against Costa rica and Hungary.
The central defender was a stand-out in Alex mcLeish’s first games back as Scotland manager to cap an amazing few months for someone who wasn’t even a regular at club level until october.
Since then, he has become a fixture in the Aberdeen side, been rewarded with two contract extensions and been the subject of a series of failed bids from Hull City that started at £200,000 rising to the rejection of a £1million January offer.
Now mcInnes expects higher profile clubs than the english Championship side to show an interest this summer and is realistic enough to know mcKenna (below) is unlikely to see out a contract that has five years to run.
However, that does allow Aberdeen to control the situation and their manager will only do a deal that he feels is mutually beneficial for the Dons.
‘I’m not here to talk about losing him, we have signed him on a long-term contract because we want to work with him,’ said mcInnes.
‘of course, like any of our players who are seen to be doing well, 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 longer-term 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 where 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.
‘He 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. ‘Scott has been almost flawless since he came in and in the two Scotland games, it was just an extension of how he’s been for us. ‘He handled it brilliantly but I believe he will handle any scenario, whether it’s a qualifying game, a cup final or playing in front of 80,000, he will deal with it.’ of course, mcKenna doesn’t have to look too far for an example of how fortunes can fluctuate in football, with team-mate Greg Stewart having endured a largely miserable 19 months since a lucrative transfer from Dundee to Birmingham City. Little did he know he was joining a basket case of a club who are now on to a sixth manager since Gary rowett took him south, with three having already come in since he left for a season-long loan at Aberdeen. He hasn’t even spoken to the latest, Garry monk, despite having a year left on his contract. And, by Stewart’s own painfully honest admission, he hasn’t exactly made the most of his time at Pittodrie. No one needs to tell him a return of just two goals in 16 starts isn’t good enough, with the player himself admitting: ‘It’s not really happened for me. You can only keep working hard and hope when the games come round you can take your chance — and I’ve not done that. ‘I need to improve on goals and creating chances. Then again, you don’t want to be too hard on yourself. All you can do is keep working hard and hope that it all changes when you get the chance. ‘It’s easy for me to say that last season impacted on this one because of what happened at Birmingham and I hardly played any games but I just want to look forward. ‘With ten games to go, hopefully, I can make a not- so-great season into a good season.’ He may get that chance when St Johnstone visit today, as Niall mcGinn misses the game with a groin injury picked up in their win against Dundee. Goalkeeper Joe Lewis is fit to return after two months out recovering from knee surgery.