Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes believes his side’s strong representation in the PFA Scotland team of the year underlines the progress made at Pittodrie in recent years.
Goalkeeper Joe Lewis, Shay Logan, Kenny McLean and Jonny Hayes were all included in the team voted by their fellow professionals alongside six Celtic players and Partick Thistle defender Liam Lindsay.
Hayes is also in the running for the PFA Scotland player of the year award and McInnes feels that recognition for his players proves the Dons have established themselves as the second best team in the country.
McInnes, who took over from Craig Brown in March 2013, said: “I remember in my first year in charge during the few weeks at the back end of the season going to an award ceremony at the Fruitmarket in Glasgow with Tony Docherty.
“I think Niall had maybe been nominated for team of the year but in all the montages and all the highlights of the season that were getting played, we were an irrelevance.
“We were a non-event as a club. Everyone else was getting awards, everyone else was getting recognised and we took a staff table and there was just no real relevance for Aberdeen in the whole campaign.
“I remember talking to Tony afterwards and saying we need to make sure that changes and make sure we’re at the forefront of any awards come the end of the season.
“I think we’ve done that every year.
“Different players have been involved, too – Shay Logan’s been in every team. We have had Adam Rooney, Jonny Hayes Niall McGinn, Graeme Shinnie, Ryan Jack and Kenny McLean as well.
“There have been loads of players nominated for different awards, so it’s good to show that we’ve got a bit of strength come the end of the season. I’m pleased with that to be honest.”
The Dons, who are nine points ahead of Rangers with four games to go, could clinch second place in the Scottish Premiership this weekend by defeating Hearts at Tynecastle tomorrow.
It would be the third year in a row that the Dons have finished runners-up to Celtic but McInnes knows his players still have work to do to achieve their goal.
The Aberdeen manager, who has no fresh injury worries for the fixture, added: “The time for reflection will be once we secure that.
“I feel if we can replicate over the next month the results we’ve shown over the previous eight then we will be pleased with our work and, hopefully, we will go into the Scottish Cup final having established second place.
“We need to show the confidence we’ve shown at various stages of the season.”