Former Aberdeen forward Duncan Shearer reckons bringing Adam Rooney back to Scottish football has been one of Derek McInnes’ best decisions as Dons manager.
The 27-year-old Irishman is closing in on a half century of goals for the Pittodrie side with 46 in 86 appearances since joining from Oldham in January 2014.
Rooney hit the back of the net 28 times last season – the best return from an Aberdeen player since Shearer achieved the same total in the 1992-93 campaign.
Shearer, now working as Inverness Caledonian Thistle’s development coach, is a huge admirer of Rooney, who has taken his total to nine for the season after finding the net in each of his last three matches.
He said: “As a forward, you want to be averaging a goal in every two games. You would be happy with a return of 25 goals from 50 games.
“Adam is well on course for that. I would like to see him play more often. I know Derek has left him out a few times for whatever reason but I think he is the type of player who you just have to play and put up with his faults.
“If he is not holding up the ball or getting involved too much, you keep him on because he can get a goal out of nothing.
“Every time I watch Adam he works very hard for the team.
“I like the way he plays on the shoulder of the last defender and is always looking to get in behind and cause problems.
“I saw that when he was at Inverness and I am pleased he is doing really well at Aberdeen.
“I would say he has been one of Derek’s best signings. He was a free transfer but Aberdeen were one of the few clubs in Scotland outside of Celtic that could afford him.
“Inverness certainly couldn’t afford to but I know they would have loved to have got him back at the club.”
Rooney scored 53 times in 119 appearances before leaving Caley Thistle for Birmingham City in 2008.
The Irishman struggled to establish himself at the Blues and was sent on loan to Swindon before moving to Oldham Athletic and then Aberdeen.
But Shearer sees no reason why Rooney can’t be a success in England, should he ever wish to return south of the border.
He said: “I always thought Adam would have a good career. I thought he would have done better in England. I don’t know what happened but he has nothing to prove when it comes to scoring goals in the Scottish Premiership.
“He is 27 so he still has time to go back down south if he wants another crack at that.”