ABERDEEN kid Peter Pawlett insists he’s ready to be let off the leash as he bids to put his injury

nightmare behind him.

 

The midfielder was one of the few bright sparks as Scotland’s Under-21s suffered a 1-0 friendly defeat to Belgium at East End Park on Tuesday.

 

Now, after being plagued by knee problems and a variety of medical frustrations since bursting on to the scene three years ago, the Hull-born wide man wants to finally fulfil his potential at Pittodrie.

 

He said: “So far this year I have stayed injury free and that is the most important thing. I am 100 per cent fit.

 

“It’s now all about match fitness. I played for 50 minutes against Ross County last weekend but want to be more involved with the first team.

 

“It was good to get most of the game against Belgium. That will help me when I go back to Aberdeen.

 

“I’ve suffered a lot of frustration recently because I want to play first-team football. That is the main priority and hopefully Craig Brown will give me the opportunity.”

 

A narrow opening-day defeat to Celtic and a stalemate last Saturday against SPL new boys County may appear like a low-key start to the season for Brown’s troops.

 

But Pawlett insists competition for places and a new-found positivity at Pittodrie signal better days ahead.

 

He said: “There is a lot of confidence in the team – there always is at the start of the season! We are quietly confident in the dressing room even though the first two results haven’t been the best.

 

“We should have drawn at Celtic Park and could have got a win at the weekend but we are all confident.

 

“The fight to get into the starting XI is fierce as young Ryan Fraser has been doing well. He is a good player with a lot to offer.

 

“We have brought Jonny Hayes in and Niall McGinn, although he is injured now which is a shame for him.

 

“But there is good competition for places throughout the team so it will keep us all on our toes.”

 

Pawlett spent most of last season on the bench and could head out on loan in this campaign if he fails to nail down a starting slot.

 

But the 21-year-old is adamant it’s too early to consider a move away and hopes to be part of Brown’s plans for the trip to St Johnstone on Saturday.

 

He said: “I think it is maybe too soon to think about going on loan but we will see how it goes.

 

“I want to play first-team football and if a loan is the only available option I will quite happily do that.

 

“I am a young lad and just want to play football. It is an important season for me. I need to play so I will give it a couple of weeks, speak to the manager and see what happens.”

 

Pawlett has won five caps at Under-21 level and was disappointed to end up on the losing side against Belgium.

 

But he’s determined to continue pressing for a place in the squad for next month’s Euro qualifiers against Luxembourg and Austria – which will decide whether the dream of reaching Israel 2013 remains alive.

 

He said: “Belgium have a lot of quality and you could see that from their one-touch football. We can learn from them and it was a good experience to watch how they play.

 

“We had the likes of Johnny Russell and Gary Mackay-Steven missing so it was an opportunity for others to stake a claim. Hopefully I can push myself into the team.

 

“If there are injuries hopefully I can show Billy Stark I can do a job for the team. I played the last few minutes when we won in Holland.

 

“I came on for James Forrest and it was a tremendous night.

 

“We have a good set of lads and we can all play. The players in this squad have good ability.”

He did well when he came on Yesterday I thought, I would have liked to see him play for us more often. Don't really like the idea of loaning a player to one of our league rivals either.

I think this move could be a good move for all parties concerned. If Pawlett wasn't going to get much game time with Hayes, Fraser and McGinn all before him in the pecking order then heading oot on loan was the best thing for him. We don't play St Johnstone again until the 22nd of December and even when we do, I very much doubt he'll be allowed to play against us. He'll be playing SPL football for hopefully the next 6 months (barring injuries and suspensions), hopefully he'll be able to find the form that he showed a couple of seasons ago and come back to Pittodrie a fitter and more confident player, ready to really push on and claim a first team place again.

 

 

Really do not like idea of loaning him to team that we will be competing with. No problem with putting him on loan but should been to 1st division team.

I think this move could be a good move for all parties concerned. If Pawlett wasn't going to get much game time with Hayes, Fraser and McGinn all before him in the pecking order then heading oot on loan was the best thing for him. We don't play St Johnstone again until the 22nd of December and even when we do, I very much doubt he'll be allowed to play against us. He'll be playing SPL football for hopefully the next 6 months (barring injuries and suspensions), hopefully he'll be able to find the form that he showed a couple of seasons ago and come back to Pittodrie a fitter and more confident player, ready to really push on and claim a first team place again.

 

 

The move is for 4 months and McGinn is out for 2 months.

Makes no sense to me what so ever.

The move is for 4 months and McGinn is out for 2 months.

Makes no sense to me what so ever.

 

Initial reaction is exactly the same as yours GS

Can only assume there is another factor involved here about which we don't know, so on that basis I've decided to wait until closure of transfer window before I pass full judgement on the wisdom of this decision

Initial reaction is exactly the same as yours GS

Can only assume there is another factor involved here about which we don't know, so on that basis I've decided to wait until closure of transfer window before I pass full judgement on the wisdom of this decision

 

One article I read this morning said Brown had told Pawlett he is not part of the first team plans so that is why he agreed to loan.

It worked in our favour for Chris Maguire and this is  not necessarily any different.  He's obviously not in Brown's plans and his injury record makes him very unreliable.  This way we let St Johnstone take on the burden of keeping him fit and if they do, he might prove he's over it at last.  It's a win-win situation in my opinion especially if it frees up a wage for half a season.

Hearing that Paton is away on loan as well now.

If that's true then there surely to fuck must be someone coming in who commands a hefty wage?

Hearing that Paton is away on loan as well now.

 

Morton have enquired about getting him on loan

Paton belongs to Greenock apparently

If that's true then there surely to fuck must be someone coming in who commands a hefty wage?

 

 

Morton have enquired about getting him on loan

Paton belongs to Greenock apparently

 

Wasn't that a rumour under McGhee too, but Paton turned it down and was sent to Austria?

Wasn't that a rumour under McGhee too, but Paton turned it down and was sent to Austria?

 

Three day trial pre loan deal which once they'd had him for three days they decided not to follow up upon

Wasn't that a rumour under McGhee too, but Paton turned it down and was sent to Austria?

He turned down the chance to go to Dundee on loan and was then sent packing to Austria.

So in short: No Dave.

So in short: No Dave.

No Dave. But in fairness, I think the Morton thing happened just before he turned down the Dundee move.  I seem to remember he was accused of sulking in not going to Dundee cos he didn't get to "go home to Greenock" or some such thing.

Best player on the park on Saturday according to my brother in law.

Not in the Saint Johnstone squad yesterday, don't tell me he is injured again.

Not in the Saint Johnstone squad yesterday, don't tell me he is injured again.

 

Hamstring injury.

 

Hamstring injury.

 

 

Back at the club I think they said yesterday.

Back at the club I think they said yesterday.

 

Aye, for his treatment.