He has contributed eight goals and created five for his team-mates but Aberdeen winger Gary Mackay-Steven believes he could still be doing more for his club.
After an uneventful spell at Celtic, former Dundee United midfielder Mackay-Steven has made 33 appearances for the Dons this season but with his club competing for a place in the Scottish Cup final and runners-up spot in the Premiership he hopes to play a key role in the club’s race for silverware and European football for next season.
He said: “My contribution has been OK. You always want to do more as a player. We’re coming up to the business end of the season when honours are handed out and it really matters.
“There’s big games coming up and I want to contribute more and a player in my position should be scoring and assisting. That’s what I want to do more of.”
Dons boss Derek McInnes has not given up on second place and Mackay-Steven agrees, insisting his side is capable of overhauling the five-point gap to Rangers in the final nine games of the campaign.
He said: “We’ve been ahead, Rangers have been ahead. In this last while Rangers have gone well. They’ve got their noses in front at the minute but I think that’s a realistic aim for us as well.
“If we can get back to winning games and put some points on the board, then second is certainly still within reach.”
Getting back to winning ways is uppermost in Mackay-Steven’s thoughts after two defeats and a draw in the last three league matches when Dundee visit Pittodrie today.
The winger is surprised to see Dundee toiling near the bottom of the division and insists he will not let their 10th place position detract from what will be a challenging game.
He said: “I’m surprised Dundee are where they are. They’ve got a lot of quality in their squad. It’s maybe surprising to find their league position but for one reason or another, every game is difficult in this league.
“We know we’re in for a tough test and we’ll be wary of their threats. They are a good team and it won’t be an easy game.”
Aberdeen go into the game with a spring in their step after beating Kilmarnock in their Scottish Cup quarter-final replay at Rugby Park on Tuesday.
Mackay-Steven hopes progress to the Scottish Cup semi-finals can be a springboard for his team for the rest of the season.
He said: “The sign of a good team is winning no matter the circumstances. The boys went a goal down in extra time, our backs were against the wall, but we showed great character to win the penalty shootout.
“The feeling at the end of that game was as good as winning three or four nil.
“Hopefully, for the fans, we want to put on a show every week and get back to scoring three or four every week.”
