WILSON READY TO BE THE REAL DEAL

DEREK McINNES is convinced Aberdeen will see the real James Wilson now the striker can be judged on his talent and not his wage packet. The player (below), who was handed a four-year £30,000-a-week contract by Louis van Gaal at Manchester United in 2015, is now on a fraction of that at Pittodrie after going back permanently following last season’s loan spell. McInnes insists Wilson’s big-money deal at Old Trafford turned out to be a mixed blessing for someone who was still a teenager at the time. Quickly falling out of favour, he went on a series of unsuccessful loans to Brighton, Sheffield United and Derby County. His temporary move to the Dons last term did not go much better but McInnes saw enough to snap up the free agent ahead of competition from clubs in England and the USA. He believes the 23-year-old can recapture his best form now he is unburdened by the expectation created by that massive salary at United McInnes said: ‘He’s a boy I hope we can really work with, now that he is an Aberdeen player rather than a Manchester United player. ‘He was really influential towards the end of last season and we feel that, now he has found a home, he will be a bit more settled. ‘That’s as opposed to being a Manchester United player who was put out here, there and everywhere. He’s a young player who’s had a lot to deal with in his short career but, hopefully, his best years are ahead of him and he can repay our faith by kicking on now. ‘Everybody seems to know the level of contract he was on. It was a huge amount on a four-year deal which, for a young man, is not easy to deal with. ‘He was really just floating at Manchester United the last few seasons and nobody really gave him an incentive. There was a perception he was underachieving, but James is a boy you need to get to know. ‘There is a confident player in there, a lovely footballer. Hopefully, that quality will come through in an Aberdeen shirt.’ Meanwhile, Niall McGinn could play in today’s friendly against Inverness Caley Thistle in Elgin — a warm-up for Thursday’s home Europa League qualifier with RoPS of Finland — after recovering quicker than expected, following ankle surgery.