Dons ace is loving spell as part of back three

Aberdeen vicecaptain Ross McCrorie believes he is in his best position after switching to a back three at the Dons.

McCrorie was restored to midfield by manager Jim Goodwin following his arrival at the club in February and started this season alongside Ylber Ramadani in the heart of the Dons engine room.

But a change of formation to a back three has led to McCrorie dropping back to defence alongside Anthony Stewart and Liam Scales.

The trio have combined to help the Dons win five of their seven matches since playing together in defence before the World Cup break.

Former Scotland under21 captain McCrorie, who has spent the week at the home of the Dons partner club Atlanta United with his team-mates, believes his new role plays to his strengths.

He said: “I love three at the back. I got player of the year playing there last year and I love playing there.

“In my first season I played midfield a lot and it was an up and down season. Last season was more consistent for me and I think that showed in how I started this season.

“I started at centre midfield but the majority of the games now are at centre back and in the back three is probably my best position. Liam Scales and Anthony Stewart have played in that system too. I know the position well and I’m enjoying it. My performances I feel have been up to a good level and performance-wise we’ve been great.

“We’ve had the odd blip and obviously we need consistency away from home but overall we’ve been good.”

The blips which McCrorie refers to have tended to come on the road for the Dons.

Jim Goodwin’s side have won just two of their eight away matches in the league so far but their home form has been very good with six victories from the seven games at Pittodrie.

It is clear where the Dons need to improve when domestic action resumes next month.

McCrorie said: “There’s been a lot of ups and downs but if you look at it as a whole with a lot of new players we’re sitting third and in a semi-final.”

Ross McCrorie.