Aberdeen vice-captain Ross McCrorie believes he is in his best position after switching to a back three at the Dons.
McCrorie was restored to midfield by manager Jim Goodwin following his arrival at the club in February and started this season alongside Ylber Ramadani in the heart of the Dons engine room.
But a change of formation to a back three has led to McCrorie dropping back to defence alongside Anthony Stewart and Liam Scales.
The trio have combined to help the Dons win five of their seven matches since playing together in defence before the World Cup break.
Former Scotland under-21 captain McCrorie, who has spent the week at the home of the Dons’ partner club Atlanta United with his teammates, believes his new role plays to his strengths.
He said: “I love three at the back. I got player of the year playing there last year and I love playing there.
“In my first season I played midfield a lot and it was an up and down season. Last season was more consistent for me and I think that showed in how I started this season.
“I started at centre midfield but the majority of the games now are at centre back and in the back three is probably my best position. Liam Scales and Anthony Stewart have played in that system too.
“I know the position well and I’m enjoying it. I feel my performances have been up to a good level and performance-wise we’ve been great.
“We’ve had the odd blip and obviously we need consistency away from home but overall we’ve been good.”
Rectifying away form is key in second half of the season
The blips which McCrorie refers to have tended to come on the road for the Dons.
Jim Goodwin’s side have won just two of their eight away matches in the league so far but their home form has been very good with six victories from the seven games at Pittodrie.
It is clear where the Dons need to improve when domestic action resumes next month.
McCrorie said: “There’s been a lot of ups and downs but if you look at it as a whole with a lot of new players we’re sitting third and in a semi-final.
“I don’t think you could ask for much more than that.
“In the second half of the season we need to accumulate as many points as we can and at least be in the top four.
“The games will come around very quick and we’ll need to be ready.
“It can be hard coming to a new club but Duk is banging in the goals, we’ve got Bojan Miovski up top and Ylber Ramadani has settled in brilliantly. It’s good to see.
“For the new guys it’s a lot of new stadiums and different styles of play.
“Some teams come at you while others sit in and it’s up to us to analyse these games and look at what we need to improve to have better away form.”
McCrorie chasing his Scotland dream with the Dons
While McCrorie’s focus is firmly on club duties one goal he hopes to achieve with the help of the Dons is to establish himself in the Scotland squad.
His brother, Rangers goalkeeper Robby, has been in recent squads and the Aberdeen player is eager to join his sibling in forcing his way into the national team fold under Steve Clarke.
He said: “One aim is to push for the national team. I feel as if I’m good enough and have shown I’m good enough but I need to bide my time.
“There’s a lot of boys in the squad I played with in the under-21s.
“With my brother going in it gives me extra motivation as well but I need to focus on Aberdeen, keep playing well and try to go to another level which I feel I can.”
Defender chasing silverware with the Dons
As a former Rangers player, McCrorie admits to being cautious about what reception he would receive when he joined the Dons under Derek McInnes in the summer of 2020.
But he would love to repay the support of the Red Army by bringing silverware to Pittodrie.
He said: “The backing I’ve had from the fans has been great.
“I thought I would get a bit of stick given where I came from but from day one I’ve been welcomed with open arms and they couldn’t have been better.
“I’m fairly settled up here. It’s been brilliant.
“We’ve chopped and changed a few managers but I wouldn’t change anything from the experiences I’ve had.
“Hopefully we can bring a trophy back to the club one day that would be great.”
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