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As we move towards the climax of the season, Paul Hartley has highlighted the contribution of his three on-loan Aberdeen teenagers, and tipped them for further international recognition.

While the more experienced campaigners have played their parts, something the manager is quick to acknowledge, he believes the talent and consistency displayed by Findlay Marshall, Adam Emslie and Dylan Lobban has been a major contributing factor to our promotion push:

“The three of them have made a massive impact. They’re maybe at a difficult age, not quite at first team level for Aberdeen yet, although that’s not to say they won’t be in the future, so they had to find somewhere to play, to get the experience they need.

“By the end of the season they’ll have a hundred games under their belts between them and will have developed so much as players.”

Dylan filled-in at right-back at Annan at the start of December, and performed so well he has been an ever-present in the side since:

“He came in more as a midfielder, but Aberdeen had tried him at the back, and he has been outstanding from the time we moved him there. He’s been really good to work with, is a threat going forward, but he’s a tough boy, and is strong defensively too.”

“Adam had made a huge impact. We can play him anywhere across the front, he’s added pace, which we had been lacking, and has got ten goals and a number of assists. We missed him in the wee period he was away, but since returning, he’s been back doing what he has all season.

“Marsh has got seven goals from midfield – I’ve set him the challenge to get ten – and to be honest, I don’t think he knows how good he is, he just needs to believe in himself a bit more. We’ve got a lot of faith in him, he can play a few positions, and he has been a big part of the team.”

All three have featured for Scotland at various levels up to the under-19s, but not in the last couple of years, and that is something that surprises Paul:

“They’re playing first team football, which a lot of the other boys aren’t, so I would hope Scotland are keeping an eye on them, they’re definitely worth having a look at.

“I am surprised. I know they’ve had call-ups in the past, but when you look at the level they’ve been playing this season, the number of games, and how they’re performing, I firmly believe they could step up to play for the under-21s.”

Findlay and Adam have each made twenty-nine appearances this season, with Dylan on twenty-two, and all three have become a key part of Paul Hartley’s plans. They look certain to have a major role to play during what could be a tense run-in over the next seven weeks.

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