LIAM SCALES insists the pressure of having to perform as a first-team regular at Aberdeen this season is giving him the confidence to reach his best levels.
The Republic of Ireland defender is currently on loan at the Pittodrie club from Celtic after a stop-start first season at Parkhead having sealed a dream move from League of Ireland outfit Shamrock Rovers last year.
The 24-year-old found himself out of favour under manager Ange Postecoglou in the second half of their title-winning campaign and has made the temporary switch to Pittodrie to push for first-team exposure.
And having played in both of Jim Goodwin's side's Premiership victories this season, including the 1-0 win away to St Johnstone last weekend, the versatile defender is relishing the test of performing on a regular basis for a "massive club".
Asked if he was feeling the pressure to deliver at Pittodrie ahead of the visit of Livingston to the north east today, Scales said: "Yeah, because it's not like Aberdeen is a small club, it's a massive club. You feel that in the city: when you win a game at the weekend it's lively and if you lose a game it might be a bit down. It's a massive club and you feel the pressure from the fans and rightly so. With the history and the size of the club, we should be winning games most weeks. We should be really competing with the big teams and up the top end of the table.
"So you do feel pressure, but pressure is good. It keeps you on your toes."
“I feel confident at the moment," added Scales. “At the end of last season I was probably low because I hadn’t played that much.
“I came from Shamrock Rovers where I was playing every week and I probably needed the first couple of months at Celtic to get up to speed with the different levels.
“I had a couple of months where I was in and out, in for certain games and probably played ten times between November and January.
“I thought I did OK and then in the second half of the season wasn’t as good, it was tough not being involved.
“Coming into training on a Monday knowing you don’t have much of a chance of playing is tough.
“And when all the lads are at the stadium preparing for a game but you’re at the training ground doing a session with the fitness coach it’s mentally tough.
“But it happens at every club in the country and it’s part of the game.
“I am glad to be out of it now and in a different cycle where I am playing every weekend.
Scales also admitted he is thriving under the guidance of fellow-Irishman Goodwin at Pittodrie, and says he feels settled at a club that is aiming to improve on their disappointing 10th-place finish last term and push for European places. And the defender also revealed that he has had limited contact from his parent club Celtic since going out on loan.
“I have a manager who trusts me, who has backed me so far and I feel I’m playing well because of the confidence I’ve got," Scales said.
“It’s nice to be properly involved, it’s going well and I’m enjoying it.
“I have settled in well and Aberdeen is a nice place. When you are just coming up here for trips to play football, all you see is the hotel room and the stadium. Now I have seen more of Aberdeen, it’s a good city and I have settled here.
“Have I had any feedback from Celtic? No, I haven’t. I haven’t thought about the long-term, not really.
“At the end of the day it’s not been put in my hands so it’s not worth thinking about yet.
“I know I’m here for the season and at the moment I’m just taking it week by week, trying to make a good impression on everyone.
“Until something like that materialises it’s out of my hands so there isn’t much point thinking too deeply about it.”
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