Aberdeen hitman Sam Cosgrove has described what adjustments he’s had to make to his game since arriving at Pittodrie.
He joined last summer from Carlisle United. After taking a while to get going in front of goal, Cosgrove ended the season as the Dons’ top scorer.
Cosgrove has enjoyed his spell in Scotland thus far. (Photo by Scott Baxter/Getty Images)
Cosgrove scored 21 goals in 44 games, a fine achievement for his first season in Scotland.
Now the striker has described the changes he’s made to his game, which helped him reach that target.
He told the Daily Record: “Coming from England, I thought Scottish football was potentially a bit softer than what I had been used to. I definitely got away with more than I do in Scotland but that is my own personal viewpoint.
Cosgrove has scored three in three games this season. (Photo by Scott Baxter/Getty Images)
I have had to adapt to Scottish football and now I am having to adapt again for the European games. It is tough because I want to play with the ball on the floor and to be aggressive and challenging centre halves is a big part of my game.
“I have to try and learn to be a bit cleverer and cuter when I am doing that. I know at times I can be too hot-headed and potentially too aggressive at times but that is all part and parcel of learning.”
Cosgrove has developed rapidly at Aberdeen
The Cosgrove that arrived at Aberdeen last year is a completely different one to the one Aberdeen have now.
A different player. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)
Before arriving in the Granite City, he’d netted just once his full career. It’s kudos to Derek McInnes for giving the raw striker a game. His gamble has paid off for the Dons.
Now Cosgrove is a feared striker in Scotland following his opening season.
Sure there are still parts to his game he has to develop and the man himself even acknowledges that. Whatever you think of his overall performance, you can’t knock the amount of goals he’s scored in Aberdeen red.
Plenty more to come. (Photo by Scott Baxter/Getty Images)
At the age of 22, Cosgrove’s far from the finished article. If the other parts of his game develop as well as his goalscoring ability, Cosgrove’s effectiveness will only increase.