THE pitch on which Aberdeen played a game on Sunday night outside of Dubai was built in the middle of sandy wasteland with a small stand for the 100 fans or so who had come along for autographs.

There was, gasp, no press box so those stars of the Fourth Estate had to sit more or less on the touchline, which turned out to be a really interesting watch.

Directly in front or me was the small piece of grass where Gary Mackay-Steven had to work against a left-back who wasn’t scared to leave a boot in every time the Aberdeen winger got past him, which was every time.

To see Mackay-Steven’s skills up close was a real eye-opener. Sure, the opposition wasn’t great but that couldn’t take away from the speed at which this underrated footballer operates at.

He is maybe too quiet. Celtic was a bit much for him in the end. However, the 28-year-old is a real talent. He’s too young to move to the MLS, although signing for New York City must be tempting.

Derek McInnes wants him to stay at Pittodrie and so, too, Connor McLennan despite the fact he would benefit from Mackay-Steven going as they play in the same position.

“Gary showed the class he has in the game as had in Dubai,” said the 19-year-old. “I’m always looking up to him, getting tips from him. It’s great to see him playing. Hopefully I can play with him again soon.

“I hope he stays. He’s a massive player for us and one we have to hold on to if we’re going to make that big push at the end of the season.

“In training I look up to him. He gives me as much advice as he can. I’d like to be playing with him, I think we’d work well together, but we’ll see how it goes.

“He’s always passing on tips. He’s not the loudest guy, but even just looking at him and the stuff he does you can learn from that and it’s brilliant to see. He’s not the loudest on the pitch or off it but he’ll always help you, he’s always willing, and just looking at him and how he is around the place I try to keep an eye on him. Hopefully I can bring that into my game too.”

Mackay-Steven has not played for Aberdeen since he was carried off the Hampden pitch in a stretcher.

That was on December 2 towards the end of the first-half of the League Cup Final with Celtic. He had bravely gone for a header and his head took the full force of Dedryck Boyata.

Mackay-Steven was laid out cold, it was a horrible sight, and McLellan, who was put on as his replacement, can still remember that horrible feeling as he watched his team-mate being treated by medics.

“It looked grim at the time,” said McLellan. “It was gutting for Gaz. We do need him in the team he’s a great talent and I just look up to him as much as I can and hopefully I can just learn as much as I can from him.

“It was obviously devastating to see. No-one wants to see that. I think I obviously wasn’t expecting it, you don’t expect that sort of stuff, but it was heart-breaking for him. They scored as soon as I came on.

“It’s great to see him back. He showed his class again in the second half when he came on in Dubai. Some of his touches … he’s been out for over a month but it looked like he’d never been out. It’s just about getting his fitness back and he’ll be stronger than ever.”