Our Stevie will be AMayzing this term McInnes: Striker must be more selfish to hit top form
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Derek McInnes insists Aberdeen fans will finally see Stevie May pay back his £400,000 fee this season.
The Dons boss admits five goals in 34 games was a disappointing return for his record signing from Preston North End.
McInnes was in charge of St Johnstone’s youth team when his attention was gripped by a 14-year- old desperate to make his breakthrough.
May netted 79 goals in Scottish football first time around, with prolific loan spells at Alloa and Hamilton followed by heroics at Saints where he won the Scottish Cup.
However a lucrative move down south turned sour with injury limiting his appearances at first Sheffield Wednesday then Preston.
But May was handed a lifeline when McInnes moved to bring the troubled striker to Pittodrie last summer.
McInnes sympathises with May’s struggles but is convinced he can cajole the 25-year-old back to top form.
The Dons boss said:“There was loads of effort from Stevie last season but it was maybe unrealistic to expect him to be as good as he’s capable of being right away.
“There’s an understanding there from myself because I had a lot of injuries.
“I have to encourage him to recognise his strengths. With certain players, you can coach and talk about things but usually for top strikers it’s their natural style of play that gets them there.
“I ’ ve known Stevie since he was 14 and it’s our job to help him get back to the level he wa s a t before.
“We all believe in Stevie and we ’re hoping to see more o f what he’s capable in the new Premiership season. “He played his part last season and scored some very good goa l s , a long with some assists, so that was never in doubt. “We want him to start being a wee bit more self ish, while still being a team player. “It’s our job to try to get more and it’s his job to try to strive for more. That ’ s the same for everyone.” That certainly applies to Adam Rooney after the Irishman failed to hit the 20- goal target for the first time in four years.
Despite starting just 17 league games last term McInnes has made it clear Rooney won’t be exiting Pittodrie any time soon.
“Adam is part of my plans – absolutely,” he insisted.“He has two years left of his contract and Adam is a player I have a lot of time for.
“We have a good history together and as long as I’m here and Adam wants to be here, he’ll be here.
“It’s a case of Adam trying to improve and there are certain things we’re looking for from him.
“Ultimately, when he’s at his best, he’s being instinctive and getting goals.
“He has maybe suffered from the way teams are setting up.
“We saw more back threes last season than we’ve seen for a long time in the Scottish league and maybe that’s had an impact on him. “Tactically he has been used to having certain wide players here but the way the opposition set up has maybe impacted on Adam’s role within the team.
“The challenge for everybody within the club is to keep working hard and continue to look for improvements.”