‘He’s been different class’: Findlay Marshall backed to make the step up to first-team football with Aberdeen

Aberdeen midfielder Findlay Marshall has been backed to make his breakthrough at Pittodrie next season after a sterling campaign in the Championship with Arbroath.

The 19-year-old has been rewarded for an excellent campaign with Red Lichties during his loan from the Dons with a new two-year contract.

Marshall’s team-mate at Arbroath, former Dundee United, Ross County, Peterhead and Dunfermline midfielder Ryan Dow, insists the teenager is ready to make the step up to the Premiership next season.

Dow said: “Marsh has been a different class for us this season. It just shows, he’s gone from League One last season at Cove Rangers where he did really well to making another step up to the Championship.

“I heard about his new contract at Aberdeen and it’s no surprise. You can’t ignore what he’s done this year.

“He’s been different class for us. We’d like to keep him for another year, but I’m sure he’ll go back to Aberdeen.

“If he can hit a ground run in pre-season, I don’t see why he can’t push on. He is ready to stake a claim for a place in their first-team squad.”

Dow’s praise for Aberdeen midfielder’s contribution for Arbroath

Dow and Marshall were opponents last season as Arbroath won promotion from League One.

The young Don scored eight goals in 39 appearances during his time with Cove Rangers in League One last term and has built on a strong campaign at Cove after moving up to the second tier.

Marshall has been an ever-present for Arbroath, scoring 14 goals and providing four assists in 42 appearances for the Gayfield outfit who can clinch a Premiership play-off with victory against Raith Rovers on Saturday.

Dow, who travels with Marshall and team-mates Jack Wilkie and Victor Enem to games, believes Marshall’s willingness to go and play competitive men’s football has paid off.

He said: “I knew he was a really good player last season, but he works extremely hard as well. He’s everything you want in a young player. He’s got no arrogance, he is hard-working and a really good player.

“Big clubs like Aberdeen will have loan managers to keep an eye on their players, but it’s good that he’s been able to train with them then with us and been able to go out and produce every Saturday.

“He’s certainly done that in terms of the number of match-winning goals, but it’s not just his goals, it’s his all-round play. But even as a young boy, his feet are on the ground.”

Marshall’s faith in his ability has paid off

With 81 competitive games in the last two seasons under his belt the experience gained has helped Marshall not only learn the game and mature, but also prepare him for the rigours of full-time football with the Dons.

Dow believes the opportunity is testament to Marshall’s desire to prove himself.

He said: “It’s incredible how many games he has played. It just shows the importance for players to go out to clubs.

“Some young players may not fancy dropping down the league and want to stay around the first team training.

“But I look at Findlay and see a lad who has thought ‘no, I want to go out and play games.’

“It’s amazing the number of games he has played in the last two years. It’s brilliant. It just shows you, if you go out and play games you can catch the eye and have people talking about you.

“I’m sure he’ll be up for awards at the end of the season as well, throughout the league, with the amount of goals and performances that he’s produced. It’s only a good thing for him.”

‘Number 10 is his best position’

Aberdeen head coach Stephen Robinson has challenged Marshall to be ready to compete for a first-team role at the Dons when he returns from his loan at Gayfield.

Dow insists his team-mate’s versatility will make him a useful member of the Dons squad.

He said: “He started the season with us playing off the front in the 10 and then he went out wide for a couple of games. I actually swapped with him.

“I went into the 10 and then we swapped again. He’s played as a sitting midfielder along with Ryan Flynn and Harry Cochrane too.

“He has played in a number of positions and I’m not just saying this, but he’s done really well in all of them.

“It just shows you the flexibility he has. He can drop back and play in the middle of the park, which he’s done on a good six or seven times this season, and he can play on the wings.

“If you speak to him yourself, he’d probably say the number 10 is his best position and that’s where he’s had his best performances for us and scored his goals.”

[Source: Press and Journal]