Aberdeen attacker Niall McGinn insists the long haul to Kazakhstan will not be a problem for his side next week as the Dons bid to take their European adventure into a fourth tie.
Derek McInnes’ Reds face a nine-hour trip to Kazakhstan on Tuesday to face Kairat Almaty in the third qualifying round of the Europa League.
It is the furthest trip the Dons have had to make for a competitive game but McGinn is well versed in travelling across the world to play football and is confident the journey will not hamper Aberdeen’s chances of making the play-off round.
He said: “This is another country I can tick off the map, I am getting used to all the travelling.
“We are going out a night earlier and we will be doing all the right things and it is one we will be looking forward to because we will be prepared and we know we will need to put on another strong performance.
“I have been to South America, San Francisco and Hong Kong but Kazakhstan will be up there.
“It is not one I am looking forward to and I will be turning to the sleeping tablets to get a decent rest on the plane.
“We are leaving at midnight on Tuesday, so we are sticking to our normal routine.
“I will put on the headphones to sleep and avoid Jonny Hayes.”
Aberdeen secured their place in the third round on with a 5-2 aggregate win against HNK Rijeka at Pittodrie.
The Dons were cruising through before two goals in six minutes from the Croatian club threatened to undo all the hard work of Aberdeen’s impressive 3-0 away win last week but goals from McGinn and Hayes in eight minutes levelled the game on the night and ensured safe progress.
McGinn knows the timing of his goal, within a minute of Rijeka going 2-0 ahead, was crucial.
He said: “I was delighted with the timing of the goal, especially with them having scored a second.
“I was delighted to score but more delighted for the team because it took the stuffing out of them. We got a bit nervy but the manager told us before the game they were a good side and they would create a few chances.
“We were told that if they did go ahead to stay clam because we knew we would still create chances.
“When the first goal went in it was a bit nervy but when the second one went in they got lucky, so I was delighted to score and then to see Jonny score as well.
“That killed them off and all-in-all it was another strong performance.”