May keen to make up for lost time now that he’s settled at Aberdeen
Stevie May admits there’s no place like home. The Aberdeen striker bedded down at Pittodrie last term with five goals after a switch from Preston North End.
With injury woes down south now a distant memory, the one-time St Johnstone pin-up has his sights on making his mark on the looming Europa League “Battle of Britain” tie with Burnley.
And he laid down a marker with a strike in Sunday’s 2-2 draw in Chris Millar’s testimonial match with his former club.
“This is as settled as I have felt in a while, coming back and being closer to family and friends,” said May, 25, who penned a four-year deal last summer.
“It is easier to do it back home than down south where you can go months without seeing people.
“I have a long contract here and I am settled and ready to get to work.”
May tied the knot with long-time girlfriend Ceianne over the summer and they have their hands full with Maltese Shih tzu crosses Buster and Betsy.
She played a key role on the 14-month road to recovery after an horrendous knee injury threw his career into doubt.
“I got married over the summer to Ceianne but not much has changed in terms of my home life. I have been living with my missus for a while now.
“I have done a good bit of work over the summer. To be fair to the boys all our tests are up from last season.
“The main thing is getting everyone fit and ready to go in that first game.
“I haven’t had any bother with the psychological side of things. I have put it to the past and I’m just enjoying playing football now.
“Hopefully there will be more success this season, more goals, a good cup run and we finish as high as we can in the league. That is the main aim.
“We had a good season finishingsecondandweren’t too far off Celtic and should have picked up points here and there.
“It was a good battle with a couple of sides. With teams coming back up it was a competitive league.
“We start against Burnley and Rangers and those are games you definitely want to be involved in.
“There is even more incentive for people to give everything they have got in terms of being in the lineup that faces Burnley and go from there, just keeping yourself in the team.”
With boss Derek Mcinnes missing out with a bid for Doncaster Rovers striker John Marquis, May’s expecting even more competition for frontline spots.
“It’s good to get on the score sheet obviously but my main aim for pre-season is getting minutes and staying healthy,” he said.
“I don’t think anyone would say no to more goals.
“I haven’t set myself targets. I am just going into every game trying to score.
“That’s what I have always done and hopefully a few more can go in this season.
“Obviously we have lost a few players so the squad will need to be built up.
“We can see the ones that we have brought in have done really well.
“There is a lot of exciting talent come in and I’m sure there will be more new faces in the door.”