Shinnie admits he should have come clean about his illness the last time Aberdeen played Killie
ABERDEEN
V KILMARNOCK
It’s not unusual to hear about footballers playing through the pain barrier for the sake of the team but Graeme Shinnie has admitted to covering up an illness so he could captain Aberdeen when they defeated Kilmarnock in the league recently.
Second-half goals from Adam Rooney, Niall Mcginn and Scott Mckenna guaranteed a come-from-behind 3-1 win to inflict what remains the Ayrshire side’s only defeat in the last 14 matches.
However, the beating heart of that and many of the Dons’ other successes this season was Shinnie’s drive and determination in midfield, something sorely lacking while he served a two-game ban in the recent defeats by Hibernian and Celtic.
So it says a lot about his dedication to the job that someone who has spent years dealing with the debilitating affects of Crohn’s disease rates that afternoon in January as a particular low point despite the result.
“The last time we played Killie was one of the worst days of my career,” he claimed. “I was ill the whole day on the Friday so was sent home from training because there was a sickness bug going around the place. “I shouldn’t have played, but I said on the Friday night that I was available. I don’t know why I did it but that’s just me, I can’t say no and tried to battle my way through it. “So I shouldn’t really have been involved and it was a struggle, but thankfully we were able to come out with the win but it was really tough that day and Killie showed us what we can expect again this weekend.”
Those defeats against Hibernian and Celtic ended any lingering chance of Aberdeen mounting a title challenge this season and makes victory in today’s Scottish Cup quarter final at home to Kilmarnock all the more crucial.
Steve Clarke, the Rugby Park club’s manager, expects to see a large travelling support in Pittodrie if the game goes ahead.
The pitch at Pittodrie will be closely monitored and Clarke does not believe the bad weather will put the away fans off making the 340-mile round trip.
“If the game is on then the supporters will be there. I know they’ll get there,” he said. “The fans are excited, which is good because it means the team has excited them over the previous weeks. It’s massive. It’s a cup quarter-final and with two wins you are at Hampden Park for the final.”