The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Pawlett gunning for a regular starting place with McInnes’s Dons
Aberdeen: Midfielder hopes to play his part in the six games Dons have before end of month
Aberdeen midfielder Peter Pawlett is targeting a regular starting place in the team and second place in the Premiership by the winter break.
Former St Johnstone loanee Pawlett made his first start since September in Tuesday’s 5-1 demolition of Kilmarnock at Pittodrie.
The midfielder scored his side’s opening goal against Killie, with the margin of victory helping the Dons move above Hearts on goal difference and into third place.
Aberdeen play six games between now and the end of the month and Pawlett is focused on playing his part.
He said: “If we reach New Year and we are second and we have also made a cup final, although it wasn’t the result we wanted, it would have been a decent first half of the season.
“No fixture is easy just now. We are looking at the Hearts and Rangers results hoping they have dropped points and they will be hoping we do the same.
“We just have to concentrate on ourselves and we will see where it takes us.”
Pawlett was pleased to answer manager Derek McInnes’s call for more goals following his recall.
He said: “I was delighted to get a start and a goal and hopefully I can now get a run in the team.
“Every player wants to play week in week out, that is just a natural thing. “Hopefully, I can get my head down. “That is what I have been doing in training and I have got back in the team.
“I spoke to the manager and he was pleased with the way I have been training and hopefully I have done enough to play at the weekend. “He told me I need to think goals. “I scored against Kilmarnock and that is what I need to do.
“I need to score goals and to create assists because that is my position and what I need to offer to the team.”
Pawlett, who celebrated his 200th appearance for the club in Saturday’s 2-1 loss at Rangers, is out of contract at the summer and knows he has to prove himself worth a new deal.
He said: “Hopefully I have another 200 to come after this.
“I have enjoyed my time here. There have been ups and downs but hopefully there will be a lot more positives.”