Aberdeen assistant manager Tony Docherty believes bringing David Goodwillie to the Dons was a risk worth taking.
The 25-year-old’s career had been on the wane since a dream move from Dundee United to Blackburn Rovers three years ago turned sour when he struggled to establish himself as a first-team player at Ewood Park.
Goodwillie was sent out on loan three times, including a return to Tannadice last season where he also failed to make the impact that was expected.
But Docherty, who worked with Goodwillie at Tannadice, has been a long-term admirer of the forward and felt the opportunity to bring Goodwillie to Pittodrie was too good an opportunity to turn down.
The Dons assistant manager is confident the club can get the best out of the attacker.
He said: “He went through a period in his career where he wasn’t playing a lot.
“As a footballer, you train every day and you need something at the end of it.
“He has got that here. He knows he will play. We have put Adam Rooney in for the last couple of games but David knows what we think of him. No one has a higher regard for David Goodwillie than myself and the manager.
“The boys see it with the way he trains every day. Hopefully, he is in a place where he is enjoying his football and has a smile on his face in training.
“With the ability he has, if he is a happy player then you will get the best out of him and that can only be good for Aberdeen.”
Goodwillie has had to be content with a place on the bench in the past couple of matches following Adam Rooney’s recent fine form but Docherty believes the club is fortunate to have two forwards to choose between who both have the ability to score goals.
He added: “Adam Rooney and David Goodwillie have been fantastic since they came to the club.
“It can be a tough decision to choose which forward to go with. Sometimes it works for you and sometimes it doesn’t. But David’s attitude is excellent. If he is not starting matches, he is always ready to come on and contribute if required.
“People underestimate how good a professional David Goodwillie is. He is a top professional.
“We are fortunate to have good professionals at the club who we can pick and choose from depending on the opposition we play.”