Give Andrew a chance and he’ll be a star
Says former Don Brian Irvine
Published:
BRIAN Irvine reckons Andrew Considine is the man to become Zander Diamond’s regular partner at the heart of Aberdeen FC’s defence.
Considine has struggled to nail down a consistent place in the centre of Aberdeen’s backline.
While Diamond has been a mainstay in the middle of the rearguard, he was joined by either Scott Severin, Lee Mair or Considine last season.
But with Mair going to St Mirren and Severin to Watford, there is a lack of players who can fill that position.
Irvine believes rather than bringing in a replacement, Considine should be new Dons boss Mark McGhee’s first pick.
He said: “Considine and Diamond was the pair everyone was raving about a couple of years ago.
“People were saying they were the new Miller and McLeish partnership.
“The way football works is that the end of season comes, players move on and then another player gets an opportunity.
“Things can open up.
“Andrew has to take that chance because it’s there for him to fill the void in the centre-half position.
“There is talk of getting other players, but first of all you should look at the existing ones.
“Obviously, as a footballer, you mature and gain experience.
“Andrew will have developed that despite stepping out of the team.”
Irvine knows all about coming in and out of a team.
He took time to establish himself at Pittodrie, having to serve as understudy to Dons greats Willie Miller and Alex McLeish.
But Irvine eventually made his mark by hitting the winning penalty in a shoot-out against Celtic to secure the 1990 Scottish Cup, five years into his Reds career.
The defender then went on to play for Aberdeen until 1997.
He believes his tale can serve as a lesson to Considine.
“I can identify with having to step out of a team despite playing well, said Irvine.
“When I was at Aberdeen, Willie and Alex were the first choice.
“When they were fit, they would play, so for five years I was understudy to Willie and Alex.
“I just had to be patient, because I would drop out of the team, then step in and so on.
“But instead of feeling sorry for myself, I persevered.
“Then in 1990 I had the greatest reward possible in the Scottish Cup final against Celtic.
“I held on to my place while Willie was still there, even although he was finishing his career.
“I kept Willie out of the team for the final, unlike the previous seasons when he would have came back in.
“The game not only went well for me, but I hit the winning penalty.
“For any player it’s a story worth recalling and it’s a good example of sticking in there.”
