Aberdeen attacker Marley Watkins is targeting Celtic and Rangers after insisting the Dons are not in the Premiership just to make up the numbers.
Watkins opened his account for the club in Sunday’s 3-0 win at Ross County and the win helped the Dons close the gap on third-placed Hibernian to two points.
Derek McInnes’s side has two games in hand on the Hibees but Watkins is focused on closing the gap on leaders Rangers and champions Celtic at the top of the table in the coming weeks.
He said: “We have to aim high and try to get into the top two. It is difficult because they have a much bigger budget, but we have to aim high and put that demand on ourselves really.
“It is a big ask but what not? We are not here just to make up the numbers.”
Watkins was relieved to break his duck for the Dons following his loan move from Bristol City. His manager has set him the challenge of reaching double figures for the first time in his career but Watkins is focused on ensuring the Dons continue their good domestic form after making it six wins from the last seven games.
He said: “To be fair, there was more pressure from myself because you want to get that goal.
“I am playing up there and I am usually playing on the right (wing). When you are playing through the middle you need to get goals and I think in most games I have been a threat.
“Before the weekend I hadn’t put them away but the most important thing is that the team wins.
“I do want to kick on and score more goals now that I am off the mark.”
On his manager challenging him to break the 10-goal mark Watkins said: “Why not? I wish I was on pens – but as long as we win that is the main thing.
“I am capable of getting double figures. I should be close to double figures now if I am being honest. I have come close quite a lot and even before I scored at Ross County I went close.
“I just want to try to score every game but it is more important that we win every game we play.
“I want to contribute even if I don’t score. As long as my teammates and the gaffer are happy with me then that is the main thing.”
Watkins will be hoping to add to his first goal for the Dons when St Mirren visit Pittodrie on Friday in the final game before the international break but the Wales international knows the Saints will be no pushovers.
He said: “Every team you have to give them respect. No team is just going to come up and fold.
“We know we need to be on it and focus on ourselves. We will take it one game at a time and see where it takes us.”
