Aberdeen move is Don of a new era, says Main
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Curtis Main feels that he earned the chance to prove his worth at Aberdeen.
The former Motherwell striker only scored six goals last season for the Fir Park side, but Derek McInnes views him as an important part to his side’s prospects this season.
Main pulled on a red strip for the first time yesterday during Aberdeen’s goalless draw with Connah’s Quay Nomads in Cork.
The 27-year-old played an hour as Aberdeen struggled to break down the compact Welsh side.
Main said: “The manager knows what I’m capable of because he’s brought me to the club, but these games are definitely a chance to reinforce what he already knows and show that I’m fit and hungry and ready to start the season.
“I think I earned the chance to come to Aberdeen.
“With my performances I feel I’ve put myself in the position to take the next step. I definitely feel ready now that I’m here and that I can kick on again.
“I certainly don’t feel that joining Aberdeen that I am out of my depth.
“I don’t believe that for one second. I feel like I belong in an environment like this.
“I will show I belong here when the action starts.”
Ironically, Main’s highlight as a Motherwell player came against Aberdeen, when he bagged a brace against the Dons as his side won the 2018 Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden.
He said: “The semi-final of the Cup was a big game to play in, but hopefully now that I’m here, I can play in many more of them and be on the right side of victory.
“It was definitely up there in the best moments of my career. It was an enjoyable day, personally and collectively, reaching the final and scoring two goals is something I will remember.
“Now that I’m here I want more of those games and more of those experiences.”
Main’s lack of goals last season, he claims, was due to concentrating on assisting his team-mates.
“At Christmas we changed formation and left me as the sole striker,” he said.
“It left me more isolated but it was successful in terms of the overall team.
“A lot of people, like David Turnbull, benefited from my role in the team.
“So that change affected my goalscoring but, on the other side, it helped the team and we went on a run, so I probably sacrificed myself for the team.
“I just got on with it and helped Motherwell turn the corner, if I am being honest. We were looking down within a few weeks of the change we were on the up and winning games.
“That was in the past and now I am looking forward and that is not how I am going to play at Aberdeen. I am excited at how and where I am going to fit in.”
How McInnes sets up with Main and Sam Cosgrove up top this season is a source of intrigue, with both players being considered bullish, robust centre-forwards.
Of a potential partnership, Main said: “If we strike up a partnership and gel together like we can then it will be dangerous to opponents and it is certainly something we are working on and pre-season is the time to do it.
“I am pretty certain we will give defences a tough run, but it is still early days and we are still working on each other’s games.
“I need to learn how Sam plays and how the team plays and that will come for all sides in time.”
McInnes, meanwhile, has insisted that Aberdeen’s drab draw with Connah’s Quay was not a fair gauge on where his side will be by the time that they begin their Europa League campaign against RoPS Rovaniemi on July 11.
As well as Main’s first showing for Aberdeen, Ryan Hedges, Jon Gallagher, Greg Leigh all made their debuts.
Ash Taylor, on his second coming to the club, also played.
“It is an extension of the work we’ve done this week,” he said.
“I was not expecting the sharpness or speed of play but we had the better defenders on the pitch.
“The onus was on us to break them down and they were organised and had a good physical presence about them which kept us on our toes.”
He added: “We came through the game without any injuries and can take the positives from a clean sheet but we’re looking for an improvement in the final third as the games progress.”