FORMER Aberdeen FC captain Russell Anderson today admitted he would love a dramatic return to Pittodrie.
But the Sunderland defender insisted any return home would have to be on a permanent basis.
Anderson, who missed most of last season with a cruciate ligament injury, is currently sidelined with a minor knee injury.
He is yet to discuss his future with Black Cats boss Steve Bruce.
But Anderson, who is also targeting a Scotland comeback, would be open to an offer from the Aberdeen FC.
Q Would you ever consider coming back to Aberdeen FC on loan, or permanently?
A I wouldn’t want to come back to Scotland on loan.
My family are down here, so there is more to it than just thinking about my football.
It wouldn’t make any sense to leave my family and come back up on loan.
If I was to do anything, I think it would be a permanent deal.
I can’t see there being many places I would rather go to than Aberdeen FC.
My family are settled and I enjoy life outside football.
If there was the opportunity to stay down here, then it’s something I would definitely look at.
But you can’t rule anything out and I’m conscious that I haven’t played in a while.
It would be a possibility to come back to Aberdeen FC, but it’s not for me to say.
It’s up to them if they want to make an offer. The ball would be in their court.
Q You were linked with a move to Dundee in the summer – was there anything in that?
A They made a tentative inquiry to see if I would be keen to come up and play on loan. But I’m still here.
Q How is life at Sunderland?
A I’m injured now. I came back and did near enough a full pre-season.
I got involved in a couple of games but then I had a little bit of a setback.
I’m hoping to get back to fitness soon.
It’s nothing too serious.
It’s the same knee that I injured before, but it’s not the ligaments or anything like that.
First and foremost, I have to get fit and then hopefully I will play some reserve games.
I’ll see where I am after that.
I need to play games and get my match fitness up, because I haven’t done that regularly for a while.
The manager at Sunderland, Steve Bruce, has been as good as gold about it.
It’s been quite a frustrating time for me, but the support from him has been good.
Q Has Steve Bruce mentioned his plans for you once you get fit?
A I don’t see the point in broaching that subject until I am fit.
There are too many things that could happen.
Once I get fit, I will sit down with him and see what his plans are.
But I need to play games.
If I’m not going to get that here I will need to go and get them somewhere else before the end of the season.
Things will become a lot clearer once I get my fitness back.
Right now, I can look at every possible scenario, but it’s pointless until I’m back training.
Q Scotland are playing Japan in the Kirin Cup next Saturday. Do you still hope to play for your country again?
A I turn 31 this month and I’d love to be able to play for Scotland again.
You can look at the likes of David Weir and Graham Alexander who are still representing their country despite being in their late 30s.
But my more immediate aim is just to get back fit, then we’ll see what happens after that.
Q You were involved in the last Scotland game in Japan which finished 0-0 in 2006. How did you find it?
A It was quite humid. I remember the games against Japan and Bulgaria, who we also played.
We beat Bulgaria 5-1 in our first game, but they had just played 48 hours earlier, so that gave us a bit of an advantage.
The game against Japan took place in the Saitama Stadium, which was a nice ground with a big crowd.
It’s somewhere I don’t think I’d have gone to if it wasn’t to play football, so it was a good experience.
Japan are technically gifted, fit and quick.
They are not the most physical of sides, although I haven’t seen them recently, so I’m just going on the team we played against.
I believe they will be much the same in that sense.
Japan will give Scotland a good game and it will be quite a test.
Q Is this a chance for players to force their way into Burley’s plans for the Euro Championship qualifiers?
A For someone to come in from the cold and go straight into the team for the start of the next qualifiers, would take some performance.
But the players going to Japan can do themselves some good by making the manager sit up and take notice.
WHAT DO YOU THINK? Should Aberdeen FC make a move for Russell Anderson? Email:
ee.sport@ajl.co.uk and have your say
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