Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes has challenged Niall McGinn to add more goals to his game.
The Northern Ireland international scored his fifth goal of the campaign in Saturday’s 3-1 win against Ross County at Pittodrie and was involved in the build-up to the two other goals in an impressive display.
McInnes knows the importance of McGinn to his side and, with nine assists this season, the former Celtic attacker has again been a key figure for the club.
McInnes said: “We tried Niall through the middle for the opening half hour of the game as we felt with County’s two big central defenders we could get him near to them and cause them trouble.
“He did on a couple of occasions but when he went out wide he had an even greater impact. His skill for the first goal was outstanding and we all know about his quality.
“He had the most assists last season and is up there again this year but we want him in among the goals, too, and that’s why we were so pleased to see him on the scoresheet.”
McInnes has told his players they must produce the tempo and drive of their second-half showing if they want to maintain their challenge at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
The Dons put a poor first half showing against County behind them with a whirlwind display in the second half to record a victory which takes the club back up to second place in the division above Hearts.
The Dons manager was delighted with the response of his players and has called on his side to produce the verve and attacking intent of the second half on a regular basis.
He said: “We know we are capable of producing what we did in the second half on a regular basis.
“We’ve got to recognise we can give ourselves a better chance of winning games by being assertive, playing on the front foot and not being hesitant or ponderous.”
McInnes sprinted down the tunnel at half-time to face his players, who were booed off by their supporters, but insists his dressing-room team talk was a measured one.
He said: “It wasn’t a convincing performance in the first half. We were tentative and anxious but the players deserve so much credit for their second-half performance. We played with aggression, speed, thought and intensity.
“It was very calm. We spoke about our standards, our togetherness and what was required, and that was evident in the second half performance.
“It is important we meet those challenges which is why I have no problem at all in telling the players when those demands and standards are not met but they know themselves.”