New signing Lewis Mayo reveals boss Stephen Robinson’s Aberdeen sales pitch

Summer signing Lewis Mayo has revealed boss Stephen Robinson’s vow to make him an even better player was key to his move to Aberdeen.

And the defender also lifts the lid on the key questions he asked the Dons gaffer ahead of a move to Pittodrie as part of a summer transfer window squad rebuild.

Centre-back Mayo, 26, made his debut in front of Dons supporters when playing the first half of a 1-0 pre-season friendly win at League One Cove Rangers.

Mayo penned a three-year contract with the Dons as a free agent as his contract with Kilmarnock had expired.

Former Scotland under-21 international Mayo racked up more than 130 appearances for Kilmarnock.

He reckons moving to Aberdeen and working with Robinson can elevate his game to higher levels as he targets honours with the Reds.

Mayo said: “In the first conversation we had the manager told me his thoughts.

“One of the things I asked him was ‘how will you make me better?’

“What do you want to work on?

“I’ve got a lot of experience in this league, but I still want to push myself to be a better player as well.

“I want to be as good as player as I can for Aberdeen.

“There were a lot of things that was appealing with a move here – the club as a whole, the manager and the ambition going forward.

“I think I can make myself a better player here so there is a lot to look forward to.

“From my years in the Premiership I saw Aberdeen have third-placed finishes, European football and win the Scottish Cup.

“If we can work well and bring more of that, then we’ll do really well.”

Aberdeen boss Robinson played six of his seven summer signings to date in the first half against Cove Rangers.

Mayo’s expectations for Aberdeen

Robinson changed the entire team at half-time.

Mayo is determined to help resurrect Aberdeen’s fortunes after the disappointment of last season when the Reds finished in the bottom six.

He said: “I think as a team, first and foremost, we want to do a lot better than last season.

“Finish a lot higher up the table as it’s no secret that at Aberdeen there’s expectations of top six.

“If you do well, European football comes with that.

“On a personal level, I want to play as many games as I can.

“And as a defender rack up as many clean sheets as possible.”

Mayo delivered his first clean sheet with Aberdeen in the pre-season friendly against the League One outfit.

Linking up with new signing Happe

He operated at right-sided centre-back in a back four alongside fellow summer signing, centre-back Dan Happe.

Mayo said: “You can see Dan handles the physical side of the game really well.

“He also used the ball very well against Cove.

“It’s good to have a player like that next to me as it’s about building those relationships early on.

“Ultimately it was a training game, that’s the purpose of it, but you still want to have good standards.

“I think if anyone had watched the game, they’d have seen we probably should have scored a lot more.”

Mayo moved to Kilmarnock on loan from Rangers in summer 2022 and had a successful campaign at Rugby Park.

What can Mayo bring to the Dons?

In summer 2023 he signed a permanent deal at Killie and was a key player in their qualification for Europe in 2024 under former Dons boss Derek McInnes.

In the 2024-25 season he started all six of Kilmarnock’s games in Europe.

Killie faced Cercle Bruges (Belgium), Tromso (Norway) and FC Copenhagen (Denmark) that season.

What can the defender bring to Aberdeen?

Mayo said: “I have a lot of experience in the Premiership as I have played in this league for four years now.

“It isn’t new to me so I know what to expect.

“As a defender, I’ve been moved around a back four and back three a lot, so I’m quite comfortable with playing different positions at the back.

“The demands, wherever you play, are the same.

“You need to be strong, you need to be physical and ready to go and run or go and fight.

“Whatever you’re asked to do.”

Does Mayo have a preference to playing in a back three or four?

“Not really,” he said.

“I’ve got a lot of experience doing both and I’ve had success with both.

“So, I’m quite comfortable, and  it’s my job to just do what I’m asked to do.

“You just need to be ready to go and play against your man or whoever we set up.”

Mayo will jet out with Aberdeen to the Netherlands for a warm weather training camp this week.

Team bonding in Netherlands camp

The Dons have a closed door midweek friendly before playing Dutch top flight club FC Twente on Saturday, July 4.

The defender said: “Being away together in the Netherlands is a chance for everyone to socialise more.

“The intensity of the training and the games is good to fast-track how the squad comes together and how we get used to each other.

“Our games start pretty soon with the Premier Sports Cup group games so we have to be ready to go.

“Being the Premiership team there are expectations so we have to be ready to go and fight in those games.

“FC Twente will be a test for us, but we’ve got to back ourselves and push ourselves.

“Hopefully, it all stands in good stead for the season coming.”

[Source: Press and Journal]