Stewart admits he’s still to find his form since Pittodrie move
ABERDEEN
V ST JOHNSTONE
Greg Stewart admits he can play better than he did in his openinggamesforaberdeen and is confident performances will get better both for himself and the team.
The on-loan Birmingham forward scored on his full debut, against Siroki Brijeg in the Europa League, but has only started three of the Dons’ nine domestic games.
“On a personal level, I hoped to be doing better,” said Stewart ahead of today’s visit of St Johnstone. “It has not worked out that way but I just come in every day and work hard in training and that’s all you can do.
“We have obviously got a big squad and a lot of good players but I expect myself to do a bit better. It’s just not quite happened yet but hopefully if I just keep working hard it will eventually turn.”
Stewart was a bit behind his team-mates in terms of fitness after returning to Scotland in July but feels he has now caught up.
“It’s more match sharpness, being in and out of the team has been a little bit frustrating,” he said. “That’s probably down to myself, I have not played as well as I should be, but I will just keep on working hard at it and hopefully it comes good.”
The 27-year-old was twice nominated for PFA Scotland player of the year in his Dundee days and was one of several impressive summer signings made by Derek Mcinnes.
Stewart admits the newlook Dons have still to click but they sit just two points behind Ladbrokes Premiership leaders Celtic in second spot. “It’s a big squad here,” he said. “When you go to big clubs, that’s what it is all about.
“You need to fight for your place and, if you don’t take your chance, you find yourself on the bench. It’s been a wee bit frustrating but I must do better.
“As a team we have done well, I wouldn’t say we have hit our peak yet, I think we can still get better as a team.
“There are a lot of new faces and we are still trying to gel to find the best formation. It’s obviously good we are not playing our best but we keep on winning games. That’s a good habit to get into.
“This weekend is massive, if we get that win to go into the break, it gives us a great chance to keep on chasing Celtic and puts a gap between the other teams.”
Scott Tanser is also getting used to life at a new club after joining St Johnstone in the summer. And speaking ahead of this afternoon’s trip to Pittodrie, the former Rochdale and Port Vale player claims English football is a “lot softer” than the Scottish variety.
Tanser feels there is less fuss made about strong challenges in the Ladbrokes Premiership compared with his experiences in England’s lower leagues.
“I have not got a bad word to say, I have really enjoyed it up here so far and I’m looking to extend that hopefully in the future,” said the 22-year-old defender. “I have a one-year contract but I hope to extend it as soon as possible.
“It’s completely different, it’s a lot more physical, and they let things go more up here than down in England. I’d use the word ‘bravery’. They are a lot softer down in England. There have been some strong challenges and people just get on with it, which is good to see.
“The same challenges [in England], players would start making a deal of it, and the referee would be giving decisions that shouldn’t be given. But up here they just let you get on with it. It’s refreshing.”
Tanser set up Murray Davidson’s winner against Hamilton last weekend after coming off the bench to play as a left wing-back. He hopes to feature again today as Saints look to leapfrog Aberdeen into second place ahead of the international break.
“Getting on in any game is good but you always hope to make a big contribution,” he said. “It was good. I could show I can get forward to create things.”