Aberdeen won’t rush David Goodwillie contract

Derek McInnes says he is in no hurry to tie up David Goodwillie on a long-term contract as it’s far too early in the striker’s career at Pittodrie.
David Goodwillie: Finding feet. Picture: SNSDavid Goodwillie: Finding feet. Picture: SNS
David Goodwillie: Finding feet. Picture: SNS

The former Scotland international’s current deal is only for a single season but the 
Aberdeen manager remains sanguine about the need to offer an extension just yet. Blackburn Rovers paid £2 million to sign the player from Dundee United but were happy to negotiate a termination of his contract last summer after a frustrating three-year association.

Loan spells with Blackpool, Crystal Palace and at Tannadice failed to reinvigorate someone once rated as the most promising young player in Scottish football. Signing for Aberdeen in July provided one more chance at redemption and Goodwillie is showing every sign of grasping it after forming a productive partnership with Adam Rooney.

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St Mirren provide the opposition at Pittodrie tonight for 
Aberdeen’s fourth successive home game knowing McInnes’ side have scored ten goals since they were paired in the first of those against Ross County.

Team-mate Barry Robson has been so impressed by Goodwillie’s return to form that he is predicting renewed interest from some big clubs, but McInnes won’t rush in with an offer of his own just yet.

“We have just got to let the boy play,” he said. “I want to keep good players here and he’s certainly shown how good he is. But we are not going to get hung up on it. Three weeks ago people were asking me if I was worried that David Goodwillie hadn’t scored a goal for the club yet. They were questioning whether he was a good signing at that point but I always knew he could come in and do a job for us.

However long he is with us remains to be seen but we enjoy working with him at the minute and hopefully that continues.”

Tonight’s game has been 
rearranged from early August when Aberdeen requested a postponement to give the players a rest after their exertions in the Europa League qualifiers. Victory will move the Dons to within four points of league leaders United and they could have Niall McGinn back after missing Saturday’s win against Caley Thistle with a 
hamstring strain.

St Mirren manager Tommy Craig admitted they were missing the injured Steven Thompson following their defeat by Celtic, but he continues to believe they can rise up the Scottish Premiership table if they add a cutting edge to their play.

“I think everybody who has been at the games over the piece realises we’re not too far away, but the ultimate aim of football is scoring more goals and we’re falling down badly there,” he said. “We have to see if we can add a few more goals and add to our meagre tally. We know where the 
problem lies and we’re working hard to put it right.”