Former Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood believes the Dons would be making a major mistake if they allow Peter Pawlett to leave the club.
Calderwood handed Pawlett his Dons debut as a substitute in a 5-0 win against East Fife in February 2009.
The 26-year-old has gone on to make more than 200 appearances for the Reds but has entered the final months of his contract and could leave on a free transfer in the summer.
Pawlett came off the bench to score twice last month, hitting the back of the net in both the 7-2 win against Motherwell and the 2-1 victory at Kilmarnock.
The attacking midfielder has made only five league starts this season and could move on with Queens Park Rangers, Burton Albion and Bolton Wanderers all interested in snapping up the former Scotland under-21 international.
Calderwood is surprised the Dons are yet to resolve Pawlett’s future at Pittodrie.
He said: “I hope Peter gets a new deal. He comes from a fantastic family and he is a great lad.
“He is so quick and I don’t know why he isn’t playing more often. He is a really good player – he has pace, two good feet and an eye for goal.
“Jonny Hayes and Niall McGinn are very good, international players, so I know it is difficult when you have players like that ahead of you in the team. But Peter can compete with them.
“I can’t understand why he isn’t on the pitch more often. Even when Aberdeen make changes Peter sometimes doesn’t get on.
“The impression I get whenever I speak to people at the club is that they think very highly of him.”
But if Pawlett doesn’t receive a contract extension, Calderwood believes the midfielder still has a bright future in the game and could prosper south of the border.
He added: “Could Peter play in England? Easily. He just gets on with his job.
“He came into our first team when he was only 15 or 16 and Ryan Jack was the same. Fraser Fyvie was also there at that time.
“It was easy to see how much potential Peter and Ryan Jack had and that they were going to be first team players.
“We always wanted to get local kids into the team but they had to be good enough.
“Those two were certainly good enough as was Fraser, although he lost his way a little bit.
“Peter has so many strengths to his game, I think he still has a lot to offer.”
