Scott Wright is hoping to follow in the footsteps of Cammy Smith and Lawrence Shankland and play his way into the Aberdeen first team next season.
The 17-year-old made three appearances for the Dons last season, featuring in both Europa League matches against Daugava Riga.
After playing home and away against the Latvian side, Wright signed a three-year contract extension to keep him at Pittodrie until the summer of 2017.
But after that early taste of top-team action, Wright did not experience any more game time until the final game of the season when he played 34 minutes in the 1-0 defeat by St Johnstone.
The attacking midfielder would love to be more involved in the new season.
He said: “When you get a little taste of first-team action it really pushes you on and makes you want it more.
“I trust the manager and when he thinks I am ready he will put me in the team.
“All you can do is wait, bide your time, work hard and when the chance comes you have to make sure you take it.
“Hopefully, this pre-season I will get to go away with the first team again.
“I will hopefully get a chance and manage to show what I can do and then carry that form into the season.”
Wright played a key role in helping Paul Sheerin’s Aberdeen under-20 side to the SPFL development league title last season.
The Scotland under-17 international added: “Last season was fantastic.
“With the possibility of five over-age players in the team, you were getting the experience of playing alongside guys such as Russell Anderson, Barry Robson and Jamie Langfield.
“They help push you on and get the best out of you.
“The coaches do a great job of getting that performance out of you as well.
“All of the players trust the coaches, which is important. We trust them to pick the right team and put us in the right positions.
“Paul Sheerin came in and did a really good job winning the league in his first season. It was a long, hard season but winning the league was a great feeling.”