Scott McKenna reckons Joe Lewis’ new five-year deal primes him to be the next Aberdeen captain.
The Dons will be looking for a new holder of the armband when Graeme Shinnie departs for Derby County after this weekend, with McKenna being mooted as one of the potential successors.
However, while joking of his less-than-impressive record as skipper – Aberdeen have yet to win when McKenna as led them out – he has been quick to hail the qualities of their ever-present goalkeeper, who was voted the club’s player of the season at their yearly awards ceremony on Thursday night.
McKenna said: “I think it’ll be big Joe after signing his new five-year deal. I’m vice at the minute but I think on aggregate we’re getting beat 12-0. I think it’s been five games, five defeats, so it’s not looking great. I was just delighted Shinnie was back for Friday night because we got a win. The first few games I got away with it but then all the lads started picking up on it and I’ve never heard the end of it!
“Joe pretty much acts as a captain without having the armband. He’s one of the older boys in the changing room and ever since he came in he’s almost been like a vice-captain. The way he carries himself about the club is brilliant. The manager hasn’t mentioned it at all but Joe would fit into that role perfectly.”
McKenna, having captained his country last summer just three months after making his international bow, would certainly not shirk the opportunity if manager Derek McInnes turned to him and offered the armband.
He added: “I’d be delighted to have it and hopefully the results would start to change. But it’s something I haven’t really thought about and I’m just trying to focus on my performances on the pitch.
“I had the armband in Mexico as well and that was a massive honour for me. I think that was my fourth cap and to lead out a relatively inexperienced team was a proud moment for me.”
McInnes has this week reaffirmed his desire to be a club manager, amid fervent speculation that he was a leading contender for the vacant Scotland manager’s job. The Dons boss would like to manage his country at some time in the future but has stressed that time is not now, while chairman and vice-chairman Stewart Milne and Dave Cormack have both expressed their belief that McInnes remains committed to the Pittodrie club.
McKenna added: “I think he would miss the day to day handling of the players. I’m not sure if he’s quite ready to let that go and just see the boys once a month or every few months. He would miss that but that’s nothing to do with me.
“It’s not just the European games, but to lose so many players of the years and keep the consistency has been brilliant. I’m actually surprised he’s not been linked with more jobs recently. I know in the first couple of years he was linked with a lot of jobs but it’s died down a bit recently and I am quite surprised by it.”