Dons have signed a gem in maestro Mcgeouch: Fyvie
He has gone into battle with both Ryan Jack and Dylan Mcgeouch.
And Fraser Fyvie reckons Aberdeen have finally found a fitting replacement for their former skipper in the ex-sunderland man.
Former Don Fyvie came through the Pittodrie youth ranks alongside Jack before they burst into the first team together a decade ago.
Fyvie’s star burned brightly, earning him a move to Wigan Athletic, then of the Premier League, before a switch to Hibs, where he teamed up with Mcgeouch to lift the Scottish Cup.
Both are players the Cove Rangers midfielder would want alongside him when the chips are down.
And he reckons the Red Army will quickly take Mcgeouch to their hearts, the way they once did with Jack.
“Dylan is a very good signing. I know Derek Mcinnes has been trying to get him for a while – since before he went to Sunderland,” said Fyvie.
“I think Aberdeen have now got the kind of proper, ball-playing midfielder they have probably lacked since Ryan Jack left – though you could put Kenny Mclean in that category too.
“Dylan coming in will definitely give them that wee bit of control in the middle of the park, in terms of composure on the ball.
“He’ll turn and take it in tight areas and he’ll move it on, but he can give you plenty in other midfield positions too.
“He can play in the deeper position, but he can also play higher up where he can be creative.
“For me, I think he goes straight into the team because he’s probably the best player in that area that Aberdeen have now.
“It’s still up to Dylan to make sure his name is on the team sheet, because it’s him, Lewis Ferguson, Craig Bryson, and Funso Ojo, and when everyone is fit there will be competition for places, which is healthy.
“But they have needed that centre mid player because they have been light in there with injuries.”
Patrolling the midfield alongside Mcgeouch at Hibs was a memorable time for Fyvie.
The pair have Scottish Cup and Championship winners medals to show for it.
Now Fyvie reckons his old team-mate will be desperate to make more memories with the Dons.
“He was massive at Hibs,” he said. “We had good midfield players at the time. It was me, Dylan, John Mcginn and either Jordan Henderson or
Scott Allan.
“There was a lot of talent there, but Dylan was still a standout because he’s a really talented footballer.
“On top of that, he’s also got a lot of experience now from Celtic, Hibs and going to Sunderland – he’s got enough about him.
“He knows what he is now and I’m sure he’ll be raring to go for Aberdeen in the second half of the season.” Fyvie is certainly motivated for the run in with Cove Rangers, who are in a nip-and-tuck League Two title race with Edinburgh City.
Having initially signed a shortterm deal, he subsequently committed to Paul Hartley’s side until the summer – and he credits the ex-highland League side with helping him fall back in love with football after a tough spell at Dundee United.
“To be fair, signing here has done me the world of good,” he explained.
“I’m getting games, I’m not travelling long distances every day, and my body’s probably in the best nick it’s been since I left Hibs.
“It might have been a surprise for people, me signing here, but it was absolutely right for me at the time.
“Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to still be playing full-time football, but the bottom line is the offers I got in the summer weren’t right.
“It has worked out well for me here. Enjoying it is the main thing, playing football and enjoying games.
“I definitely lost that towards the end of my time at United.
“The injuries sucked the enjoyment out of things for me, and the style of play didn’t suit me.
“Don’t get me wrong, it got results, but Robbie Neilson’s wanted to go more direct and it didn’t suit me. And I was fine with that. I accepted it.
“I knew by the last February I’d be leaving in the summer, but coming to Cove has actually worked out a lot better than even I thought it would.
“We’re in a great position, with Edinburgh City tucked in just behind us. Now we just have to keep taking it game by game and see where we are at the end of the season.”