Ryan Duncan admits he is pleased with his progress this season at Aberdeen - helped hugely by mentor manager Barry Robson.
The 19-year-old lifelong Dons fan has made 14 appearances so far in this campaign, including his European debut against Swedish side BK Hacken.
Duncan confesses that this has only been possible thanks to the faith and trust shown in him by Robson who was formerly his youth coach at the club.
The Scotland Under-21 international said: “I’ve been happy with how the season has gone for me personally so far.
“I have played a good amount of games and had the experience of playing in Europe as well, so I am happy with what I’ve done.
“Europe has been a real learning experience for me so it’s something I’m really glad I’ve done and want to get again.
“The manager has shown a lot of faith in me. I have known him for a long time and that helps.
“He is great to work under and he’s trusted me to play in different positions for the first team.
“So having him in charge has helped me a lot.
“The club has been giving young players a chance and you can see there’s a pathway there with a few coming through to the first-team.”
Midfielder Duncan has had to become used to playing in a new role this season but the transition has been made easier thanks to advice from some of the senior players in the team.
The teenager added: “I used to be a wing-back when I was younger so it’s not completely different for me, I have played there before.
“It is a good thing to be able to play in various positions because I can cover when someone gets injured or the gaffer wants to make changes.
“I mainly played midfield or right-wing for him before, but I think I did it a couple of times.
“So he knows he can put me in there and I will be able to do it.
“It is a hard position because it’s physically demanding at times, but I enjoy it because you get plenty of the ball.
“Defensively the boys have been great at helping me out, the ones at the back as well as Graeme Shinnie and Jonny Hayes.
“They have both been really helpful. Having those older boys in the dressing-room to help the younger ones has been really good.
“They all give advice, telling me to work hard. Graeme has told me that ability only gets you so far and hard work is what takes your game up a level.”
With Europe to contend with, Aberdeen’s start to the league season has been a rollercoaster one with the team currently sitting eighth in the Premiership table.
However, Duncan insists the Dons can still finish third, just like they did last year with another three points the immediate target against Motherwell at Pittodrie today.
He added: “We have had a lot of games with Europe and the cup games, but Europe is over now so we want to be climbing the table.
“Is third still achievable? Of course, but we just have to take it a game at a time and see what happens.
“The last two games at home in the league we’ve won, so we’re looking forward to the Motherwell game now.
“We want to make it three in a row and make Pittodrie somewhere people don’t like playing.”
Aberdeen were denied the chance to build on their momentum when their game against Dundee at Dens on Saturday was called off less than an hour before kick-off because of a waterlogged pitch.
Now, manager Robson is determined his side will finally pick up from where they left off against the Steelmen.
The 45-year-old said: “Motherwell will be a real difficult game but we are looking forward to it. We have had a busy schedule so maybe the day’s break we got will help us a bit.
“We have been good at home, we’ve beaten Frankfurt, Hearts and Livingston so we feel like we’re starting to get going.
“As difficult as Motherwell will be, it’s one we’re looking forward to.”
