One player that just can’t replicate their earlier form is Aberdeen’s Greg Stewart. With Aberdeen visiting Dens Park at the weekend, Greg Stewart returns to one of his former clubs.
In April 2014, Dundee announced the pre-contract signing of Greg Stewart from Cowdenbeath. The former Rangers and Hearts youth would be a pivotal signing for newly-promoted Dundee, under the stewardship of Paul Hartley.
Paul Hartley brought Dundee to the top tier before guiding them to 6th as a newly-promoted outfit. (Photo by Jeff Holmes/Getty Images)
The Dee would finish 6th in the 2014-15 season. Stewart finished their top goalscorer with 13 in the league, 15 in all competitions. In January 2015, he was named SPFL Player of the Month after scoring five goals in seven games. The rich vein of form included goals against future employers Aberdeen and Kilmarnock.
Name up for nomination
That season saw Stewart as one of four nominees for the 2014-15 PFA Scotland Players’ Player of the Year. He joined Aberdeen’s Adam Rooney and Celtic duo Stefan Johansen and Virgil van Dijk in contention for the award, eventually won by Johansen.
2014-15 PFA Player of the Year nominees Greg Stewart of Dundee, Stefan Johansen of Celtic, Adam Rooney of Aberdeen and Virgil Van Dijk of Celtic . (Photo by Jeff Holmes/Getty Images)
And he proved he wasn’t a one season wonder after being nominated for the award for the second season in a row. He was also one of three Dundee players that made the PFA Scotland Team of the Year, joining summer signing Kane Hemmings and now-Celtic goalkeeper Scott Bain.
The Dark Blues to Blues
The Dee finished 8th and Stewart moved onto Birmingham City, signing a three year deal for an undisclosed fee, believed to be in the region of £500,000. Often a fringe player, he’s had loan spells at both Aberdeen and Kilmarnock earlier on this season.
Despite Derek McInnes announcing Aberdeen’s intention to sign Stewart this summer when his Birmingham contract expires, it’s fair to say it isn’t working out at the Dons. Whether it be last season or this season, he can’t replicate his Cowdenbeath, Dundee or Kilmarnock form.
Aberdeen’s Greg Stewart and Dundee’s Jon Aurtenetxe tussle at Dens Park last season. (Photo by David Young/Action Plus via Getty Images)
Perhaps this game at Dens Park is just the opportunity he needs. Away at bottom of the table Dundee, he could get his Aberdeen career kickstarted again.
But he could also do some serious damage to his former employers, struggling at the foot of the table.