Aberdeen midfielder Frank Ross has made the switch to Championship side Ayr United. It’s a loan deal that lasts six months and one that will see the 21-year-old gain some vital senior experience.
It comes at a bit of a strange time though.
Ross has made a temporary switch to the Honest Men. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)
With Aberdeen short in numbers in the midfield area, should the Dons have held off farming out their young talent until more senior members returned?
Ultimately, Aberdeen youngster Ross will benefit from Championship experience
Lewis Ferguson and Dean Campbell will likely be the starting pair when Aberdeen face RoPS Rovaniemi in Europa League qualifying duty.
This is due to a number of shortages in the area. The likes of Craig Bryson and Stephen Gleeson are either injured or struggling for fitness, leaving boss Derek McInnes with youthful options to pick from.
Ferguson will be the senior figure in the Dons midfield against Rovaniemi, at the age of 19. (photo by Alan Rennie/Action Plus via Getty Images)
Could this have been an opportunity for Ross to show what he’s made of? He perhaps isn’t ready to be a fully fledged member of the Dons senior squad yet, but a European experience could have done him the world of good.
Regardless, he’s with the Honest Men now, and that’s not a bad thing either. He never had a proper run at first-team football last season, although he made 18 appearances whilst on loan at Morton in the 2017/18 campaign.
If he wants to realise his potential he needs to play. A move to the Championship will see him play at a a good level most weeks. McInnes will hope he comes back in January ready for action.
Ross will tear up the Championship. (Photo by Steve Welsh/Getty Images)
Still, the timing is a little odd. Aberdeen could be doing with midfielders for the Rovaniemi clash. To send one of their promising ones away prior to it seems strange.
The Dons will be hoping to see long-term benefits off the back of this move.