McKenna grateful for role of McInnes in his rise to the top
SCOTT McKENNA knows that without the guidance of Derek McInnes, he wouldn’t be stood on the verge of representing Scotland at a major finals. Now 24 and an established English Championship performer with Nottingham Forest, McKenna is looking forward to Euro 2020 with Scotland just as his old gaffer ponders his next career move.
Having parted company with McInnes after eight years, the Dons have appointed Stephen Glass to preside over a new era.
A product of the club’s youth set-up, McKenna has been reminiscing over his Pittodrie highlights this past fortnight and believes history will judge the McInnes chapter kindly.
He said: ‘It was disappointing to see him go because he was so good to me, a massive influence, just the way he did everything.
‘I actually texted him to say I had forgotten just how many big moments we had until I saw all the clips coming out on social media. I am just grateful that he gave me the chance to be part of those moments.
‘He gave me the chance to play in a cup final, there were the European games, like Burnley away. We went toe to toe with them, we didn’t get through but that was still an unbelievable experience.
‘Scoring the winner at Ibrox was probably my best moment in an Aberdeen shirt. Just because of the rivalry and how well we did against them that season.’
In time, McKenna believes the majority of Aberdeen fans will share his gratitude, even if he can understand the feelings of those Pittodrie supporters who became fed up with their manager.
There were times when he felt similarly frustrated with his boss, not least when he was patiently waiting for his first-team chance.
Already a veteran of loan spells at Ayr United (twice) and Alloa, McKenna was nearing his 21st birthday by the time McInnes finally afforded him a run in the team.
McKenna believes the wisdom of McInnes’s caution shone through in the aggressively consistent performances that made him a mainstay and ultimately generated a hefty transfer fee for the Dons.
‘He never put me in too early, when I probably would have failed,’ said McKenna. ‘He put me out on loan at the right times, allowed me to develop and make mistakes away from the club.
‘By doing that, it meant when I did finally go into the team, it was all plain sailing and I never came back out. That was all down to the way he looked after me.’
McInnes joined Aberdeen in 2013 on the back of a bad spell at Bristol City but delivered the League Cup trophy in his first full season.
Although he found it impossible to deliver more silverware, he made the club perennial European qualifiers and secured three consecutive second-placed finishes.
‘I don’t think he is going to have any problems getting another job,’ added McKenna. ‘Who knows, a fresh challenge might give him the platform he needs.
‘You look at the likes of Graeme Shinnie and Kenny McLean going. These are huge players he was having to try and replace year on year. So you are talking a constant rebuilding job, I think he did great with the cards he was dealt.
‘This season, the team had a great start and then hit a sticky patch around Christmas, which continued. Ultimately, fans just want what is best for their club in that present moment but the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.
‘You can’t judge it right now, it will be in the course of the next couple of seasons that becomes apparent, but there is no doubting the job he did at Aberdeen.
‘I think you see it already that the same people who were calling for him to go have been back on thanking him. It is just the way football is.
‘Derek was there throughout my entire time at Aberdeen. There were times I got annoyed with him and I probably annoyed him at times but, over the period, we had a strong relationship.
‘It was down to him that I got to play for Scotland. I would still text him now if I ever need anything.’