Aberdeen midfielder Kenny McLean concedes he may have been trying too hard to impress since moving to Pittodrie.
The former St Mirren player, who joined the Dons in January, feels the Red Army has yet to see the best of him. But McLean is determined to show what he can do in Aberdeen’s final six matches of the season.
He said: “When you come to a new club you want to prove yourself right away.
“You want to get the supporters on your side and the manager and everyone at the club, too.
“You can try too hard and that was probably evident in my play at times. Maybe off the ball I was doing stuff I didn’t have to be doing and when we had the ball you didn’t see the best of me.
“It was always going to take time to adjust coming from St Mirren and a different way of playing.
“When I came in I started OK but the couple of draws against Dundee and Partick Thistle weren’t my best games and the manager left me out of the team to play Caley Thistle because there are boys on the bench who are ready if someone comes off.
“With the squad we have you need to be on your game more often than not or you will be replaced because of the quality we have on the bench.
“It’s a better squad at Pittodrie than it was at St Mirren. At St Mirren there weren’t as many players to choose from and sometimes you take playing for granted most weeks but at this club that can’t happen with the quality squad there is.
“It was always going to take time for me to adapt to the way it is at Aberdeen but I think I’ve settled in.”
While McLean’s former club appear to be destined for demotion to the Championship next season, McLean is hoping he can help Aberdeen confirm their place in Europe next term.
Avoiding defeat by Dundee United at Pittodrie today will be enough to confirm a European spot, a prospect that the 23-year-old is relishing.
He added: “It’s something you want to do from a young age. You watch those big European nights and you want to be involved in them.
“We’ll go into Saturday’s game looking for the points and if we can secure European football that will be great.
“Right from the start of the season, the way the boys have gone about their business has been brilliant.
“If someone isn’t pulling their weight or not doing what the manager asks then things can be changed with the quality that’s round about.
“It’s been good season up to now but it is far from over. There’s still plenty for us to do.”