Declan McManus admits he took a risk in pushing Aberdeen into sending him on loan to Morton.
But after notching 20 goals and landing a League One SPFA Player of the Year nomination, the 20-year-old believes it has paid off.
The young hit man started the season hoping to break into the Dons’ first team, and a substitute appearance in Europe suggested he was on course.
But after missing out on further action, he persuaded manager Derek McInnes to let him go to Cappielow.
Now his goals have fired Jim Duffy’s high-flying Ton into promotion contention.
“I always thought I’d be going out on loan again, but I did quite well in pre-season with Aberdeen and played in the first European game,” said McManus.
“After that I wasn’t playing much, so I heard from my agent that Jim Duffy had asked for me. He’s a very good coach and I wanted the chance to play under him.
“Derek McInnes was reluctant. He said he didn’t want to let me go. But I said to him I would go out, play games and come back in January, hopefully a better player for Aberdeen.
“But when I came back in January, I was on the bench again, so I asked to go back out again to try and win League One with Morton.
“It’s hard to know whether to go out and play games, or stick around and try to prove yourself.
“That’s the dilemma I had. But I spoke it through with my agent, my dad and everybody else, and made my points to the manager.
“If I stayed at Aberdeen, didn’t play, then got let go, nobody would have seen me play.
“But I’ve gone out, got games under my belt, and I’ve loved every minute of it. It has been brilliant.”
What the Dons will do with McManus remains to be seen. His contract expires in the summer, and as yet there have been no talks.
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