Aberdeen teen star Connor Barron is confident he will continue to improve after a memorable breakthrough season.
The 19-year-old only made his first team debut in January this year but has started every game under new boss Jim Goodwin.
Despite that game time Barron believes he hasn’t established himself as a first team regular – yet.
He aims to make a major impact next season despite a summer squad rebuild by manager Jim Goodwin.
Barron’s emergence was the shining light in the closing months of a campaign where Aberdeen finished 10th in the Premiership.
After that lowly league finish the midfielder accepts a host of new signings will arrive at Pittodrie in the summer.
He aims to retain that starting slot despite the the rebuild is ready to make a major impact next season.
Barron said: “I’m getting better every time I play and train as I’m always learning.
“I’ve only had 15 games so I don’t think I’ve established myself as a first team player yet.
“However I’m on the right pathway to go and do that.
“I feel next season I can go on and push myself right into being more established.”
Scotland U21 Euro qualifier call-up
Barron has started all 13 games under Goodwin and also made a breakthrough at Scotland U21 level in recent months.
The teen made his Scotland U21 debut when coming on as a substitute in a 2-0 Euro qualifier loss to Turkey on March 25.
Days later he started the 2-2 draw away to Kazakhstan.
The Pittodrie Youth Academy graduate is set to add to his two caps having been named in the squad for next month’s Euro U21 qualifiers with Belgium and Denmark.
Scot Gemmill’s side will face Belgium (June 5) and Denmark (June 10).
Scotland currently sit fourth in the qualifying group on five points.
Belgium top the group on 19 points with Denmark in second place on 10 points.
Barron admits the breakthrough with Aberdeen and Scotland has been ‘wild’ considering six months ago he was on loan at League Two Kelty Hearts.
He said: “I always believed that if I got a chance, I’d have enough to keep myself in the team.
“I believe in my ability and that I can do well when I get a chance.
“At the start, I thought I might just get a little debut, but I went on to play 15 games.
“It’s been a bit wild, to be honest, coming from Kelty and pushing my way into the team.
“Results-wise, it hasn’t gone our way.
“But personally, I feel I’ve done well and enjoyed every minute of it.”
#SCO21s | Scot Gemmill has named his Scotland Men's Under-21s squad for our #U21EURO qualifying matches next month 🏴#YoungTeam
— Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) May 19, 2022
Benefitting from loan spells
Midfielder Barron spent the first half of the season on loan at eventual League Two title winners Kelty Hearts.
He received a league winner’s medal.
Aberdeen recalled Barron from that loan spell in January and he penned a contract extension until summer 2024 days later.
It was Barron’s second loan experience as he had been at Brechin City in League Two for the first half of the 2020-21 campaign.
Brechin City were eventually relegated that season and are now in the Highland League.
In the two loan spells Barron experienced the highs and pressures of pushing for a league title.
He experienced the lows, and pressure, of scrapping at the bottom of the league.
Both were invaluable to his development.
Barron said: “A couple of seasons ago was not the right time for me to get into the team.
“I had to go out on loan twice and this season I made my breakthrough.
“It shows there are different pathways for different players.
“Liam Harvey recently made his debut and I’m sure he can now push on.
“There are a lot of boys coming through and I’m sure they will get their chance if they are training well and impressing the manager.
“Players who make an impact in training will get a chance.
“It was a big step up for me coming from League Two to playing in the Premiership.
“But many of the players at Kelty are above League Two standard so I learned a lot from playing with good experienced professionals.
“I was still training throughout the week with Aberdeen.
“So I still had that insight as to what was happening here and I knew if I came back I was going to be ready.”
‘I am sure the goals will come’
Barron was shortlisted with Aberdeen team-mate Calvin Ramsay for the PFA Young Player of the Year award along with Josh Doig (Hibs) and Liel Abada (Celtic).
Celtic winger Abada scooped the award.
In a breakthrough season Barron admits all that was missing was a debut senior goal.
He is confident the goals will come next season.
Barron said: “I’m a bit disappointed that I have not managed to pick myself up a goal yet.
“I’ve had a couple of chances.
“I’m getting into the right areas and if I keep doing that then I’m sure the goals will come.”
