Mackay-Steven pens two-year deal with Dons

Aberdeen have signed winger Gary Mackay-Steven from Celtic.

The 26-year-old has signed a two-year contract at Pittodrie and has arrived in time to be eligible for tonight’s Europa League second qualifying round first leg against Bosnian side Siroki Brijeg.

Mackay-Steven slipped down the pecking order at Parkhead last season, making only eight appearances in the Ladbrokes Premiership including four starts, but had previously been a consistent contributor for the Hoops and his former club Dundee United.

The one-cap Scotland international – who spent three and a half years at Tannadice and made more than 130 appearances – will go straight into the squad for the Siroki tie, with fellow winger Scott Wright struggling for match-fitness.

Dons manager Derek McInnes meanwhile does not feel any added pressure to steer them through the Europa League qualifiers following a terrible start for Scottish clubs.

Both Rangers and St Johnstone fell at the first hurdle before Aberdeen kick off their campaign in the second qualifying round against Bosnian side Siroki Brijeg at Pittodrie.

“We feel the responsibility for our own club,” McInnes said.

“There is always a pressure and demand on us to perform. What happens at other clubs, we can’t affect.

“There’s no doubt it was disappointing for our country and the league in general to lose a couple of teams early on but it can happen.

“Both teams would probably have been favourites and expect to go through, so it can happen.

“It shows when you are not quite able to be at your best you can be vulnerable.

“I don’t think any team, with all the will in the world, with three and a half weeks’ preparation going into a game at this level can be at your best but we have to be as close to it as we can to get through.

“I don’t feel any added responsibility other than the responsibility to get my team through.”

The Dons are the seeded team but Siroki impressed in the first round with a 2-0 aggregate win over Ordabasy of Kazakhstan.

“They dealt with the previous tie really comfortably,” McInnes said.

“Siroki are a very well-coached team, good organisation. They don’t score too many goals but they don’t concede many. They didn’t give away many opportunities in the previous tie.

“They have good energy in the middle of the park, good experience at the back, quick on the sides, and they are a good counter-attack team.

“They dealt with that away tie very comfortably and I can see they will be a good opponent.”

Gary Mackay-Steven struggled to make an impact at Celtic last year.