Aberdeen striker Alfie Bavidge is determined to make a first team impact in the new season despite the presence of Duk, Bojan Miovski and Ester Sokler.
The 17-year-old says he has self belief and is ready to “work my socks off” to achieve his first-team target.
Bavidge netted the opener in the 2-0 friendly win against Highland League side Fraserburgh at the weekend.
The Scotland U17 international was a prolific scorer for the Dons’ under-18s last season with 38 goals.
That form earned a first team breakthrough last term with five appearances off the bench for Barry Robson’s side.
The teen accepts he is up against fierce competition for game time as Duk and Miovski netted 18 times each last season for a combined total of 36 goals in all competitions.
Summer signing Sokler, a £300,000 capture, has scored five goals in the first two friendlies of pre-season.
Bavidge relishes the competition and is up for the challenge.
He said: “I’m going to have to work my socks off to get into a position where I can help.
“I will do my best.
“They are all obviously great players and it is great to be in competition with them.
“I will do my best and see where that takes me but I believe in myself.”
‘As long as I’m getting into those positions the goals will come’
Bavidge has started the two friendlies so far this season, a 9-0 defeat of Turriff United and the win at Fraserburgh.
Rising teen star Bavidge fired home from six yards in the 38th minute at Fraserburgh.
His shot was initially blocked by keeper Joe Barbour but the striker followed up to score.
He said: “A goal’s a goal. As long as it’s in the back of the net I’m happy.
“As long as I’m getting into those positions the goals will come as I start getting into the season.
“I am working with the manger and the staff on that.”
⚽️ Alfie Bavidge opens the scoring yesterday
— Aberdeen FC (@AberdeenFC) July 16, 2023
Learning from experienced strikers
Bavidge has been involved with the Dons since the age of eight, graduating through the SFA Performance School at Hazlehead Academy.
Last season Bavidge scored three consecutive hat-tricks for the under-18s in wins against Hibs (4-0), Dundee United (7-3) and St Mirren (4-1).
The striker was named as the club’s development player of the year at Aberdeen’s end of season awards ceremony.
Clubs in England and Scotland had been monitoring Bavidge due to his prolific form at under-18 level last season.
However in May the teen signed a contract extension to remain at Pittodrie until at least 2026.
Bavidge was handed his first team debut by Robson in February when introduced as a second-half substitute in a 3–1 win against Motherwell.
Later that month, the teen grabbed his first goal for Scotland U17s when scoring in a 4-4 friendly draw with Switzerland in Spain.
Bavidge says he is learning from strikers Duk, Miovski and Sokler – and other players in the squad.
He said: “Every day I am working with the players and they are all great mentors.
“The experienced ones and even the younger ones.”
Route to first team for teenage talent
Bavidge is expected to be the next Youth Academy graduate to make the grade at first team level.
In recent years Calvin Ramsay, Connor Barron and Ryan Duncan have all emerged from the academy to become key first team players.
Right-back Ramsay, 19, went on to complete a club record £4.5m transfer to Liverpool that could be worth up to £8m to the Dons with add-ons.
Ramsay featured in the Champions League for Liverpool against Serie A champions Napoli and earned a debut Scotland cap.
However his campaign was derailed by injury and Ramsay was sent on loan to Preston North End for the upcoming season.
Ramsay is set to face Aberdeen on Saturday as Robson’s side play Championship Preston in an away friendly.
Scotland U21 international midfielder Connor Barron was a stand-out performer in the second half of the 2021-22 season after making a breakthrough.
Barron, 20, reportedly attracted interest from Premier League Brentford, Celtic and Belgian club Genk last summer.
However the midfielder, now fully fit, suffered a frustrating 2022-23 campaign due to injury problems.
Midfielder/winger Ryan Duncan also made an impact last season with 31 appearances and two goals.
In the recent pre-season friendles Bavidge and 17-year-old midfielder Findlay Marshall both scored.
Teenage defenders Jamie Mercer and Evan Towler also received game time.
Bavidge insists the breakthrough of teenagers like himself shows other youngsters there is a clear pathway to the first team.
Bavidge said: “It shows that it is possible and that is thanks to the manager for giving us the opportunity.
“I’m sure all the players coming up will look and see that they can do it and it will give them that extra bit of belief.”