McKENNA EXIT BOOST
McInnes’ pride over £3m Forest move
THEY’LL miss him, certainly. But Derek McInnes still sees Scott McKenna’s absence as that rarest of things in the current climate — a good news story.
The Dons boss would obviously rather have the Scotland defender in the starting XI for tonight’s tantalising Europa League qualifier against Sporting Clube de Portugal in Lisbon.
If you’re looking for a textbook example of how the academy system is supposed to work, though, McKenna is it.
The loss of his star centre-half cushioned by the knowledge that Nottingham Forest have paid over £3million up front, part of a deal rising to £5m should the Championship side win promotion, McInnes is adamant that McKenna is destined for the Premier League.
‘It’s a good story, really,’ said McInnes, the experienced coach grinning as he added: ‘It doesn’t feel like a great story for me at the minute, I’ve got to say — because I’d rather have him in the team!
‘But I do think, when you look at it, Nottingham Forest are getting a brilliant young player. He’ll be great there.
‘It’s a great move for Scott in terms of wanting to get down south and show himself.
‘He’s been a consistent performer at international level and, looking at how he’s started this season for me, he’s knuckled down and stayed injury-free.
‘He’s quietly gone about his business and demonstrated what a good centre-back he is. His stats are right up there.
‘It’s a good story for the club, a youngster who has come through the academy from 12 years of age.
‘All the staff and coaches who have had the fortune to train him and coach him, to nurture him, it’s a good story.
‘That’s how you want the club to be run, with academy players coming in, giving you good service, good value and wishing them well.
‘It is a significant figure in this current climate. Is he worth more? He is worth more.
‘And he’ll go and show that. His next move will be for way more than this.
‘But it’s good money nonetheless
— and much-needed money. I am sure he will go down there, establish himself and let people see how good a player he is.
‘I am pretty sure he will get there and play in the Premier League. Hopefully, that can be with Nottingham Forest, certainly for the add-on side of it.’
McKenna has come close to leaving before, of course. Bids have been knocked out. Interest simply wasn’t followed through.
McInnes, always willing to put a protective arm around the big kid with so much promise, insists the moves that didn’t happen never really knocked him off his stride.
‘You are there to support all your players, either professionally or privately,’ he said.
‘He is one who recognises there is no time for moping about, disappointed though he was on a couple of occasions.
‘He knew the only way to overcome the disappointment was by knuckling down and working hard. That’s why there’s a lot of satisfaction in seeing him… I wish I had 16 caps at 23 years of age.
‘There’s no doubt there have been a lot of conversations with Scott.
‘But he’s intelligent enough to know that it’s only how you respond to disappointment at times.
‘I think it is important, when you put so much time into your youngsters in the hope they will develop as mainstays of the team, that you do get some level of return for that somewhere down the line.
‘A lot of people have invested a lot of time into the likes of McKenna and others.
‘The club tries to secure that and we did good business to secure Scott on a longer-term contract.
‘We have done it in the past and we gave ourselves every chance to maximise the fee. In this instance, it is good to get some money in. ‘It is a challenge for every club, not just ours, to secure talented youngsters on long-term deals. It is very difficult.
‘You are on the border of the richest league in the world, and you are on the border of the English Championship. ‘It is not as strong at the minute financially but there are still clubs there who can pay way more than we can.
‘Players are aware of it, agents are aware of it, so it is difficult for us to continually secure funds coming in.
‘We are grateful we have done it. We wish the big fella well. He deserves it.’
It’ll be easier for Aberdeen fans to feel as sanguine about the loss of a star performer, of course, if they get past Sporting at the Jose Alvalade Stadium.
Eliminating Viking in the last round was impressive. Even given the Covid-related absences that have so weakened tonight’s hosts, winning this one would be something special.
McInnes, admitting that a home tie against LASK or Dunajská Streda offers his team a great incentive, insisted: ‘We need to have the game of our lives.
‘Sporting are experienced in the right areas and have talented youngsters. You see the size of their squad and the level of player they have.
‘They are a top European side. In terms of setting about the challenge, it is exciting.
‘We were desperate this time last week to face them — and told the players to make sure they are on that plane to take on Sporting Lisbon.
‘It is not every year you can say that in your career, that you are playing against Sporting Lisbon.
‘The staff here are trying to get a handle on them to try to give the players the best chance to win the game and make it a memorable night.
‘It is 90 minutes, cup football and we have a chance — there is no doubt about that. That is the way we are looking at it.
‘This is one of Europe’s marquee clubs and we have the opportunity to take them on.
‘If we can beat a team like Sporting Lisbon and have a home tie next week, it will give us unbelievable confidence going into that game at Pittodrie next week.’