Connor’s hoping this will be the Don of a new era
After an up-and-down 2019, Connor Mclennan knows exactly what he’s targeting in the new year.
“I just want a bit more consistency,” said the Aberdeen youngster.“then I can hopefully get as many minutes as I can and see where that takes me.”
His desire for game time is understandable.
The 20-year-old has shown in fits and starts the kind of quality that can win matches.
But he has also found himself in and out of the team, and was notably taken off at half-time along with Niall Mcginn after Celtic raced into a 4-0 lead at Pittodrie in October.
Having been handed his first start since against Livingston on Boxing Day, Mclennan was determined to shine.
He did so with a goal – and he admits it was a relief to have been given the nod.
“I was pleased when I saw my name on the teamsheet for the Livingston game,” he explained.
“After that, it is about making an impact and hopefully I did.
“It has been a frustrating and stop-start this season. But I’ve always tried to be as ready as I can be.
“Coming off against Celtic, you know the circumstances and you can’t really take it to heart. Things weren’t going to plan and the manager had to change something.
“But I had been chomping at the bit to be ready for that start. Thankfully, it came against Livingston.”
Mclennan wasn’t the only Aberdeen youth product to seize his moment.
Bruce Anderson’s strike after coming off the bench was a peach, and will have given Derek Mcinnes food for thought ahead of today’s clash with Hearts.
For Mclennan, Anderson’s performance was no surprise.
“I’ve known him a long time, and I knew when he got into that position that he was going to score,” he said.
“What a finish it was. It was good to see two local lads scoring at Pittodrie and it made it that extra bit special.”
Recent youth products Scott Mckenna and Dean Campbell also featured against Livi, adding to a total of four homegrown players on the field.
That, says Mclennan, bodes well for the youngsters currently striving to make their own Aberdeen breakthrough.
Mclennan said: “Hopefully, the boys in the youth academy can see that.
“We had such a young squad and you don’t realise how young some of the boys are, like Mckenna, Vyner, Ferguson, Dean and Bruce.”
The Dons will jet off to Dubai during the break, and will look to use the time to rejuvenate for a run-in that will test their mettle, given Motherwell’s refusal to give up in the race for third place.
But first they must put Hearts to the sword League Cup defeat at Tynecastle.
“The league table doesn’t lie, but we know Hearts are a good team,” said Mclennan. “They can cause us damage.
“We will be looking for revenge for the League Cup defeat, and to finish on a high.
“You don’t know what is happening behind the scenes, but we know Hearts have good players, although things are not clicking for them at the minute.
“It might take one game and they could blow a team away with the quality of players they have, especially at the top end of the pitch.”