Aberdeen midfielder Kenny McLean hopes to do his former side St Mirren a favour by helping his new team defeat Ross County on Saturday.
The Staggies are at the foot of the table and six points behind Gary Teale’s St Mirren, but the Paisley club has played two games more.
McLean, who spent five years at St Mirren, knows an Aberdeen win on Saturday against County would help ease the pressure on the Buddies and said: “That would be an extra bonus for me. I was at St Mirren for a long time and I will always look out for them.
“Come Saturday, I can do my former team a favour because Ross County are down there with St Mirren, but I just want the three points for Aberdeen. Helping St Mirren would be an added bonus.”
McLean is trading life in the relegation struggle with St Mirren for the more exciting challenge of closing the gap on Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic.
And the 23-year-old is looking forward to dealing with the demands of being a Dons player.
He said: “It is tough when a team is down at near the bottom of the league as I have experienced it in the last few years.
“Coming to Aberdeen the demands and expectations are higher as we are at the other end of the table.
“Leaving St Mirren in that situation wasn’t easy but for my own career and progression it was best to come here. I am coming to a club on the up and I think it will make me a better player given the way Aberdeen play. It is an attacking style, playing against them has never been easy.”
McLean remains hopeful St Mirren can survive the threat of relegation to the Championship but insists his main focus is getting his Aberdeen career off to a flying start. He added: “Gary Teale has got the manager’s job until the end of the season which brings a bit of clarity.”