It was stark to see an Aberdeen defence without the towering presence of Scott McKenna against Motherwell on Sunday as the Dons conceded three goals in the space of twenty minutes having previously not conceded in six hours of play with McKenna in the squad.
McKenna was in scintillating form coming into the game, helping Aberdeen to four clean sheets in a row.
The defender has been central to Derek McInnes plans the past three seasons but now the Dons manager will have to do without one of his most prized assets.
Having staved off bids from Celtic and Aston Villa the centre-half left for Nottingham Forest with his deal finalised today.
-Motherwell defeat Aberdeen at Pittodrie with McKenna a surprise admission from the squad
Manager lays plaudits on professional McKenna
Derek McInnes has built his last three Aberdeen sides with McKenna as a platform, the centre-half having played thirty plus games for the club the past three seasons.
Now McInnes finds himself without a backbone after saying McKenna was always ready to play. The Dons boss believes McKenna will only get better as his career progresses.
McInnes said of his former player: “Goalkeepers and defenders normally find it difficult to establish themselves in first teams and having that trust at centre-half is sometimes difficult for a manager to give, but Scott’s had our trust for a long time now.
“He’s always ready to play. Everything’s important to him whether it’s a passing drill in training, or his recovery in the gym, everything is focused on him being the best he can. He’s improving and improving and if he keeps doing what he’s doing he can have a fantastic career.
“When you have that type of person and player in your squad you always think you have a chance in games.”
Ryan Edmondson joined Aberdeen on loan form Leeds United at the start of this season and whilst the striker has only made one appearance in the Championship so far in his career, he has extensive experience of being round sides in the division, having been at Leeds for the past three seasons.
Edmonson believes the Championship will suit McKenna and wished him all the best on his move.
Edmonson said: “He’s good on the ball, very vocal and a big guy. It’ll suit his style down there. I hope he can have a good run of games.”
It’s believed McKenna joins Forest on a four year deal for an intial £3m with the fee rising to around £5m subject to certain targets.
Career seeded in the North East which has grown and grown
Scott McKenna was born in Kirrie in the burgh of Angus and was snapped up by the Aberdeen football academy at an early age.
McKenna made his professional debut for Aberdeen as a substitute against St Johnstone in February 2016. His first start came against Hearts in May of the same year. He established himself in the side in the 2017/18 season where the Dons finished second, three points ahead of Rangers, and made the Scottish Cup semi-finals.
McKenna has made sixteen appearances for Scotland after playing in the U-19s and 21 sides. He made his full international debut in a 1–0 defeat against Costa Rica on March 2018.
McKenna was always subject to bids including from Celtic (the team he supported growing up) and a rumoured £7m offer from Aston Villa in 2018.
McKenna joins a club trying to rediscover its illustrious history
McKenna moves to a club steeped in history having been managed by the great Brian Clough. Former players to have donned the Forest crest include Roy Keane, Peter Shilton and Archie Gemmill.
It’s Forest’s thirteenth consecutive season in the Championship. The closest they came to promotion to the Premiership was in 09/10 when they finished third, but this year Forest have started poorly losing their opening two games and sitting 22nd in the table.
Club legend Kenny Burns, who was a double European Cup winner with the club in the seventies, is delighted the English Championship outfit has secured the services of McKenna who he says will help Forest become more street wise.
Mr Burns said: “We need defenders who know how to defend and to be resolute and strong. McKenna will more than fit that bill.”
Former Scotland manager Craig Levin agreed with McInnes’ sentiments that McKenna will only get better.
Levin told the BBC: “He’s quicker than people give him credit for and you have to remember he’s just a kid and as a centre-back it takes time to learn your trade.”
What are Forest getting: A physical defender with a surprising amount of mobility, McKenna has the exact attributes needed to overcome the grueling Championship season – one of the longest and most demanding in British football – and as his former manager said, defenders only get better with age. Being only 23 means there’s a lot more to hopefully come from the Scottish international.
Did you know: McKenna’s transfer to Forest is an Aberdeen club record, breaking the previous fee of £2m paid by Coventry for striker Eoin Jess in 1996.
Harry Jamshid Reporter Sports Pages 