Ross McCrorie reckons he’s had the best season of his career despite Aberdeen suffering their worst for a decade.
The utility man was named Dons player of the year last week but admits there’s no personal gain if the general feeling around Pittodrie is one of pain.
McCrorie returns from suspension for Saturday's trip to face Hibs in a bottom six scrap which just a year ago would have been a battle for third spot.
And he insists seeing Rangers, Celtic and Hearts all gearing up for another crack at the continent with Dundee United, Ross County and Motherwell battling it out for two other Euro spots only heightens the frustration in Jim Goodwin’s squad.
He said: “I came to Aberdeen to challenge at the top end of the table and challenge for trophies. It’s been disappointing that we’ve ended up in the bottom half of the table and certainly as a club it’s not where Aberdeen should be.
“Especially when you see those teams getting a chance to play in Europe and Hearts guaranteeing group stage football.
“It’s very disappointing but it is a motivator for us to come back next season push the team forward and the gaffer will have ideas about bringing in new players.
“We need big changes at the club and our standing in the league table hasn’t been good enough this season.
“Hopefully, by the time next season comes around we’ll be ready to be up there.
“Individually, I think it’s probably been one of the best seasons I’ve had in terms of my performances.
“My consistency has been good and I’ve been playing at a higher level. It’s just unfortunate that as a team we haven’t been good enough.
“You can see that from our standing in the table. But, personally, it’s been a good season.
“Before the season started I worked hard in the gym and I put on a few pounds and that helped me, especially when I was playing centre-back.
“I feel when I was playing there that’s when I had my consistency. I was playing well week in and week out. That’s when I reached the high level of performance.”
McCrorie is disappointed his form over the past year didn’t merit international recognition.
The 24-year-old received a call-up from Steve Clarke in October 2020 but the former U21 captain has yet to taste any top team action for Scotland.
And that’s something he is desperate to rectify in the coming season.
He said: “It’s been a motivation of mine for a couple of years now. I got a taste of it last season and I felt this season I was very unlucky not to get called up.
“I feel as if I’m good enough to get in there but it’s up to me to keep playing at a high level and keep improving each week and getting better as a player.
“Hopefully I can catch the eye because it’s certainly a motivation of mine. I feel as if I’m good enough to be in there.”
An upturn in fortunes at club level would help and McCrorie, who watched from the stands as Aberdeen edged past Dundee 1-0 last weekend, reckons the momentum for next season must start now.
He said: “It was close against Dundee but it didn’t matter how we got the result. It was a big three points for us and the performance was okay, but we’ve got to tidy up on a few things.
“I don’t like watching games from the sidelines. I get very nervous. I can’t watch the game. It was disappoint ting to be suspended and it’ll be good to be back this week amongst the boys.”
