The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Ross returns with Ton of promise to make grade Dons: Midfielder is ready to shine for Reds after spell with Cappielow men
Aberdeen midfielder Frank Ross believes his loan spell at Morton has given him the drive to make the grade at Pittodrie.
The 20-year-old, from Ellon, impressed in his first start of the season on Saturday as the Dons beat St Mirren 4-0 in the Betfred Cup.
Ross, who had a spell on loan at the Championship Greenock side last season, believes his spell in the second tier of Scottish football has toughened him up for the challenge of forcing his way into the first team at Pittodrie.
He said: “It helped me in every aspect, physically and mentally. Some boys were doing second jobs outside of their football and it probably makes me appreciate what I have got here.
“It can be hard especially when you have a family to support. No disrespect but when you go down the divisions you realise how good it is here.”
Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes insists Ross merited his late inclusion – at the expense of Niall McGinn who suffered a calf strain in the warm-up – after the player’s impressive displays in pre-season training.
Ross suffered a minor injury which kept him out of the opening games of the campaign but he insists he is ready if called upon after making his first start on Saturday.
He said: “When I came back last week I was so desperate to get back and I trained quite well. That got me in the team. Maybe I needed that month out to get my mind ready for playing. I came back flying in pre-season. I was one of the fittest boys in the team and I was doing well.
“I had worked hard over the summer, so the timing of the injury was a bit frustrating.”
Meanwhile, Dons midfielders Scott Wright and Lewis Ferguson have been called up to the Scotland under-21 squad to face Andorra and the Netherlands next month.
Wright already has four caps for Scot Gemmill’s side and impressed in the 4-0 win against St Mirren on Saturday, while Ferguson, a summer arrival from Hamilton, steps up from the under-19s after starting all five games for the Dons this season.
The under-21s take on Andorra at Tynecastle on September 6, a day before the senior side faces Belgium at Hampden. The under-21s play their Dutch counterparts away on September 11. Gemmill’s side sit third in Group 4, eight points behind runaway leaders England.