Former Motherwell captain Declan Gallagher says he suffered with his confidence following a summer move to Aberdeen in 2021.
The centre-back swapped Fir Park for Pittodrie after joining Scotland's squad for Euro 2020, the nation's first major tournament since 1998.
Two bouts of Covid and a hamstring injury hampered the defender's beginning and Aberdeen's Premiership form on the park was faltering, culminating in manager Stephen Glass' sacking earlier this year.
New boss Jim Goodwin has come in and the 31-year-old from Blantyre has played five consecutive 90-minute matches in red, and the Aberdeen ace says fans are now seeing the best of him.
He told Red TV: "My injuries are behind me now. I had Covid twice and a hamstring injury but I am getting a run in the team now and starting to establish a partnership with David (Bates) at the back.
“I feel the best of my footballing ability is coming out and I think the more fitness I get on and off the park the better I will become.
“I always believe in myself no matter what but it is hard when you come to a new club and you want to make your mark but you miss pre-season and are playing catch-up.
“When you don’t play and you are used to playing every game it is hard to take. It was a position I had never been in before and I had come back from being in a Euros squad with Scotland so my confidence was high.
“I missed pre-season, played a couple of games and then did my hamstring injury.
"My confidence was a bit low and that could show on the park at times but I have got myself in the team and I think you can see my confidence is high again.”
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