Aberdeen fans have been told to expect a rapid right back who will storm forward to support attacks in new signing Jayden Richardson.
The 21-year-old has joined the Dons from Nottingham Forest on a three-year deal as a replacement for Calvin Ramsay who moved to Liverpool on Sunday for a club record fee.
Richardson spent the majority of last season on loan at Notts County, initially joining on a one-month deal in December before the move was extended until the end of the campaign.
He made 25 appearances for the Magpies, scoring one goal, in a campaign which culminated in defeat by Grimsby Town in the National League play-offs.
Former Notts County director Paul Mace, who hosts the Magpie Circle podcast about the club, believes Richardson has the attributes to play at a high level.
He said: “He is very quick. People might think it is a big step up from National League to the Scottish Premiership but we got him on loan because we are next door.
“He is a local product of the Nottingham Forest, he comes from a local footballing family and at least one of his brothers plays at a decent non-league level in Nottingham.
“It was abundantly clear to Notts County fans that he could play at levels above the National League.
“We normally played 3-5-2 and he was an attacking wing back.
“We sometimes played with a back four and he played as a right back.
“He has pace to burn and would do lots of overlaps. His strength is breaking into the opposition third and putting in low crosses for attackers.
“He got himself into some very good goalscoring positions and if you were being hypercritical he probably should have scored four or five goals.
“But if he was scoring goals regularly from wing back then Nottingham Forest wouldn’t have been loaning him to us in the National League.
“Aberdeen is a very good move for him as he wasn’t going to be playing for Nottingham Forest in the English Premier League.
“Clearly it will be a big step up for Jayden.
“We had Callum McGregor, the Celtic captain, on loan at Notts County a few years ago when we were in the English Football League as was Jack Grealish.
“There have been loan players at Notts County who have gone on to significantly better things and hopefully Jayden is one of them.”
Iris Smith, the chair of the Notts County Supporters Club, said Richardson impressed during his time at Meadow Lane.
She said: “He had a very good loan spell at Notts County.
“He has got a lot of pace and is a very strong player.
“It was clear from the start that he was one to watch.
“From a fan’s perspective, he seemed to settle in quickly at the club and become one of the team.
“He made a great impact.
“He is very good at crossing and you can see how much potential he has with his speed.
“That is his real asset.
“His strength is definitely going forward to support attacks.”
Smith, who watched her first Notts County game in 1966, believes Richardson’s experience in the National League will stand him in good stead for Scottish football.
She said: “I know a lot of people turn their nose up at the National League but it is a very tough league.
“It is also very difficult to get out of the league.
“It is not a league where you can play pretty football – you have to fight for everything.
“At the same time there is still some fantastic football being played.
“You have to be a very strong character in a very united team.
“A lot of league teams have dropped down and are all vying to get out.
“On average, we would have 6,000 or 7,000 at our home games.
“Obviously bigger games draw in bigger crowds.
“Away from home we take anything from 500 to more than 1,000.
“I expect Jayden will enjoy the challenge of Scottish football, especially going to the bigger grounds.
“I think he will thrive on playing in those atmospheres.”
Football journalist Sarah Clapson, who covers Nottingham Forest for Nottinghamshire Live, believes the defender will be a useful acquisition for Jim Goodwin’s squad.
Richardson, who also had loan spells at Exeter City and Forest Green Rovers, made only four first team appearances for Forest but was highly regarded at the club.
She said: “We haven’t seen him play that much because he has been out on loan but he was always viewed as a player with plenty of potential.
“He wasn’t going to get a chance in the first team at Nottingham Forest which was why he was sent out on loan but he was highly rated.
“He likes to push on and attack. Defensively is where there is possibly more room for development.
“He is definitely quick and good at getting forward. It is just about finding that consistency with the final pass but he is still very young.
“He is at an age where he needs to be playing games. He wasn’t going to do that with Nottingham Forest after the promotion to the English Premier League.
“He got games last season at Notts County and he needs to be somewhere that he feels he has room to develop and improve.
“Hopefully it works out well for him. I’m sure he spoke to Scott McKenna and Max Lowe about Aberdeen.
“They are good examples for him of what can be achieved by doing well at Aberdeen.
“Scott McKenna has been excellent since making the move to Forest. It is looking like a great deal for Forest.”
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