Greg Stewart hasn’t exactly set the world on fire since returning to Aberdeen. Having performed so well in his brief loan spell with Kilmarnock earlier this season, hopes were high for his return to Pittodrie.
Last season when on loan at the Dons, Stewart underperformed. He was never played regularly in his preferred central role, often finding himself on the wing or on the bench.
He scored eight in 16 games in a central role at Rugby Park this season, but when he returned to parent club Birmingham City in January, he rejoined the Dons on loan in the winter window.
Again it hasn’t worked out, perhaps going worse than his first loan spell. It’s surprising that Rangers have reportedly moved to snap up the attacker on a pre-contract according to the Daily Record. This could well be paper talk, but if it isn’t, you have to question why Ibrox boss Steven Gerrard wants him.
If Stewart does choose to join the Govan side in the summer, McInnes shouldn’t be bothered by his decision.
Stewart doesn’t fit Aberdeen
Since returning to Pittodrie, Stewart has played out in that unfavorable wide role. McInnes is partly to blame for this failure second time round. It didn’t work the first time and he was great through the middle for Killie, why play him out of position?
Regardless of that Stewart still has to look bothered, which he hasn’t for the most part. On his most recent appearance against potential employers Rangers he didn’t even look like he wanted to be there.
The term empty shirt gets banded about quite regularly but that’s the only way to describe Stewart’s performance, or lack of. Too many times in his second spell in the North East has this been the case.
His priority clearly isn’t delivering European football to Pittodrie and his departure from the club in the summer should be of great relief to boss McInnes. It allows him to bring in a player similar to Stewart, one that actually wants to play for him.
There is no denying the Birmingham City loanee has the potential to be decent. He showed it at Dundee then Kilmarnock. Any time he has went to a bigger club like Aberdeen or Birmingham though he has flopped. A move to Rangers may only end in disaster, even if he is moved centrally.
Whatever happens with him it looks like he won’t be a Don next season. With just one goal and no assists since January, that’s not a bad thing.