Kevin McNaughton won’t be re-signing for Aberdeen, Derek McInnes confirms

Pittodrie boss Derek McInnes today confirmed former Aberdeen full-back Kevin McNaughton is not a potential signing target.

The 34-year-old former Scotland international featured as a second-half trialist for Aberdeen in the 3-0 friendly win at St Johnstone.

McNaughton is a free agent having left recently-relegated Inverness Caley Thistle at the end of the season.

The former Cardiff City defender began his career at Pittodrie and made more than 200 appearances for the Dons between 1999 and 2006.

However, McInnes confirmed McNaugton’s reappearance in a red shirt was a one-off.

He said: “Kevin is not a player we are looking to sign and we were just helping him out.

“It is not a position we are looking to fill.

“Kevin is good friends with Joe Lewis from their time at Cardiff.

“They were talking and Kevin said he didn’t have anywhere to train so that is where it came from.

“We invited Kevin to come and train.

“As we couldn’t give everyone 90 minutes at St Johnstone we needed more bodies and thought we would reward Kevin’s work that he has done with us with a little game time.

“Kevin is well thought of by everyone at the club but it is training, nothing more. If we can help him get another club then great.”

McNaughton emerged through the Pittodrie youth ranks and made his debut for the Dons in 2000.

Capped four times by Scotland he transferred to Cardiff in 2006 and made nearly 300 appearances, playing in both the FA Cup and English League Cup finals, both defeats.

He was an integral part of the Cardiff side who won the English Championship title in 2012 and promotion to the top flight.

McNaughton admits running out for Aberdeen for the first time in more than a decade was “emotional”.

He said: “I have trained with Aberdeen for the last few days.

“Derek asked me if I wanted to come down and play some of the game against St Johnstone.

“I was chuffed to bits to get the jersey back on and it has been strange going back to the club where it all started for me.

“It has been quite emotional to be round the place again, but I have enjoyed it.

“I had kept myself ticking over during the summer but was struggling to find somewhere to train so Derek said to come in for a few days.

“Then the opportunity came to play 20 minutes and get some game time so that was an added bonus.”