Goals win games and Willo Flood is convinced Aberdeen have them in abundance this season.
Eight goals in two competitive games so far represents an excellent start for the Dons and as Derek McInnes and his players prepare to face Dutch side Groningen in the Europa League tonight Flood believes the addition of David Goodwillie has increased the threat of the team.
Flood, pictured, is a former team-ate of the Goodwillie’s from the duo’s time at Dundee United. Having spent the last 10 days working with the former Blackburn Rovers attacker Flood expects the club’s recent signing to make an immediate impression at Pittodrie.
He said: “A confident David Goodwillie will bring a lot to this team. I was speaking to the manager earlier saying I hadn’t seen Goodie play for a while, but even in training he looks hungry and sharp.
“He has a point to prove and that spells danger for any side in the Scottish Premiership coming up against him.
“People thought I was going to go to Celtic and play, and I didn’t so I know how he will be feeling. He has come here after his time at Blackburn showing a lot of drive and he is here to prove people wrong.
“It didn’t work out for him at Dundee United second time around, but that’s because of Nadir Ciftci doing well. The team went on a good run when he was out of the team and that made it difficult for Jackie McNamara to bring him back in.
“But he’s a lad I’ve always rated highly. He had a good attitude and good attributes when I worked with him at United. The only thing players lose in football is confidence and if a player gets it back they can get back to where they were or make them even better.
“The only way to get confidence back is to keep working hard and believe in yourself.”
Goodwillie may have to be patient and wait for his chance following Adam Rooney’s five-goal haul in the first two Europa League games but Flood is convinced he will be joining a team boasting a major attacking threat.
He said: “We look a right threat and we have good pace out wide. With Rooney banging them in, Goodie to come in, Barry Robson scoring from free kicks and Jonny Hayes and Shay Logan scoring as well, we’re got a lot of goals in the team.
“We’ve had games in Europe and won them convincingly and we will go into this tie with confidence.”
Flood knows the visit of Groningen represents a substantial improvement on Latvians Daugava Riga who were dispatched with ease in the previous round, but confidence is high within Pittodrie that the Dons can reach the third qualifying round.
He said: “It’s a big step up. The Dutch league is a lot stronger than the Latvian league and they are a top side as well so we know it is going to be a step up, but we are prepared for it.
“We’ve done a lot of analysis on them so we know about them collectively and individually. The manager has done his homework on them so we know what we are coming up against and we are well prepared for it.”