Niall knows all about taking on the Islanders

Aberdeen’s Niall Mcginn

Niall Mcginn is braced for a war of attrition when Aberdeen host NSI Runavik of the Faroe Islands on Thursday night. Capped 58 times by Northern Ireland, the forward is the Dons’ most-experienced player when it comes to taking on continental opposition. And, while accepting the Scottish representatives will start as massive favourites with the bookmakers to progress through to the competition’s second qualifying round, his experience has proved to him things don’t always go to plan.

“I am old enough and wise enough for this,” said the 33-year-old.

“I have

been

on

the international stage, and we have had difficult games against the likes of the Faroe Islands and San Marino. “I’ve played against the Faroese national team a few times. Football has changed over the years and all these games are difficult.

“The smaller European nations will get behind the ball, give 100% and try to get you on the counter attack.

“It is down to us to create opportunities, get the ball into good areas and create chances. “There was a 1-1 draw in the Faroes (in 2010) and, in general, while we are expected to beat these teams, we had a difficult few years.

“We have improved over time, and now we are expected to win.

“But at the start of Michael O’neill’s time in charge of the country, we lost in Luxembourg in the game Jonny Evans got sent off.

“Last season when we went away to Georgia, we drew the game 1-1 but we won comfortably at home.

“But it is hard to know the strengths of the opposition.

“We have had it at Aberdeen over the years, too, including against Fola Esch (of Luxembourg) when it took us until about an hour to score the first goal.

“They will always work hard behind the ball, so it is about wearing them down and keeping them moving.

“If you score early, the game can end up comfortable. “We know if we turn up and play well, we will definitely create chances and, hopefully, score a few.

Niall Mcginn salutes the Northern

Ireland fans after beating

the Faroes 3-1 in Torshavn

in 2015

“You want to get off to a good start in European football and no game is easy.

“But we would have taken this tie at home to get through before the draw.”

As Mcginn conceded, Aberdeen’s interrupted start to the season means they will start the tie and this afternoon’s Premiership game against Livingston still looking to hit their stride.