Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes reckons goalkeeper Danny Ward is growing in confidence with every game.
Welshman Ward joined the Dons on a 12-month loan deal from Liverpool this summer and was immediately handed the number one jersey ahead of Scott Brown and Jamie Langfield for the Reds’ Europa League qualifying matches.
Ward has previously been called up to the Welsh international squad and was handed a five-year contract by Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers shortly before his move to Pittodrie.
However, prior to the switch, Ward’s only first-team action had been five appearances during a loan spell with English League 2 outfit Morecambe last season.
Considering his lack of experience, McInnes is delighted with the way he has dealt with the responsibility of being Aberdeen’s first choice thus far.
He said: “There’s a confidence about Danny. The downside about him was the fact he hadn’t had game experience.
“You’re not going to get the perfect scenario. He was a goalkeeper we had been watching and had been well aware of.
“We’re grateful to Brendan Rodgers and Liverpool for them seeing Aberdeen as a good choice for him to go out on loan.
“We are now giving him the benefit of playing in games like Sunday’s match, as well as European games. He’s rewarding us with performances, so it’s a win-win situation.
“We are mindful he’s still young, he’s still got a lot of experiences to go through, good and bad.
“But we certainly feel we’ve found ourselves a goalkeeper who’s more than capable of doing the job.”
Ward came to Aberdeen’s rescue on Sunday, with an excellent save from Dundee United forward Mario Bilate when Sunday’s Premiership opener at Tannadice was still goalless.
The Dons went on to win 1-0, thanks to midfielder Kenny McLean’s header seven minutes from the end, but McInnes was quick to point out Ward’s contribution.
McInnes added: “It was a brilliant save. Danny made himself big and stuck out his left hand. It was a real pivotal moment just before half-time.
“We’re never going to go to a venue like Tannadice and get it all our own way. We probably need our goalkeeper to make a few saves.
“He did his job there and has done his job very well since coming to the club. He’s played his part but he was ably supported by every one of his team-mates.”