Reynolds relishes second spell with Aberdeen after ‘slotting back in’

Mark Reynolds was desperate for a return to Aberdeen and the opportunity to play first-team football again.

The defender sealed his return to Pittodrie this week on a season-long loan from Sheffield Wednesday. The 25-year-old – who could be involved in today’s Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash against Ross County – impressed for the Dons last term. Reynolds told RedTV: “It was always out of my hands as to whether I would return. I couldn’t stay up here because I had two years left on my contract at Sheffield Wednesday.

“I went down to England to do my pre-season and spoke to the new manager, who wanted me down there. However, with the sheer volume of players – there was something like ten defenders and Dave Jones had signed six of them – the manager agreed to allow me to go out on loan.

“He was keen for me to get some game-time as he said he did not like stifling players’ careers. I did not want to stay and sit in the stand on a Saturday. I wanted to come back here as soon as possible.”

Reynolds added: “It feels like I have never been away. I have slotted straight back in. As any footballer will tell you, the quicker you can get settled in, the quicker you can get back to playing football again.”

Aberdeen manager Craig Brown says his summer transfer dealings are now complete and thanked the board for sanctioning Reynolds’ capture. He said: “We are very pleased to get Mark back. We have been trying to get him here since the end of last season. [Chief executive] Duncan Fraser showed great perseverance and we have managed to get him here. We have now got the squad we were seeking.

“I must thank the board for their support to enable us to get to where we are in terms of recruitment. We have been able to get four good players in.”

Looking ahead to the visit of newly-promoted County, Brown added: “We hope the supporters come and we do not want to let them down. When there has been an expectation in the past, we have not delivered the way we would have liked to have done.

“Ross County will be a difficult game. They have that winning mentality as they were outstanding last season in the First Division. Anyone who underestimates them is making a big mistake. We will not underestimate them.”

Meanwhile, County boss Derek Adams is hoping to extend the club’s unbeaten league run at the expense of his former club. Adams was part of the youth set-up at Aberdeen before returning for a season in 2004. Now the 37-year-old takes his newly-promoted County side there, looking to make it 36 league games without defeat.

Adams said of his time at Aberdeen: “I started off there as a 16-year-old. It is a good club and a good upbringing, the right coaching and the right values. I always liked going back as a player, but going back as a manager will be special.

“We take that [unbeaten record] into the game and would love to keep that run going. We are looking to try and win the match like Aberdeen will. They come off a good performance against Celtic, losing to a freak goal, and we will see what kind of game transpires.”