Kenny McLean: Aberdeen can get back to their best against Motherwell
Aberdeen midfielder Kenny McLean is confident they can return to their early-season form against Motherwell on Saturday.
Derek McInnes' side strode to the top of the Ladbrokes Premiership with eight successive wins, but their recent collapse has almost been as dramatic.
The Dons are on a run of four consecutive defeats, including one to Hibernian in the League Cup, and have dropped down to second, two points behind Celtic.
A win over Mark McGhee's side will restore Aberdeen to the top, although the Parkhead men would get the chance to leapfrog the Granite City men again when they host bottom side Dundee United on Sunday.
"Of course the run we are on is disappointing, but we are still in a decent position," midfielder McLean told RedTV.
"We just need to get back to what we were doing at the start of the season when we were on that run and hopefully it can start on Saturday.
"It is always going to be frustrating losing games and losing a few in a row is very unlike us.
"We are not used to this situation but we know we are good enough as we have shown, we know we have the players and squad to bounce back.
"Thing aren't happening for us just now. The breaks that are going against us were going for us at the start of the season.
"We need to get back to what we were doing and I am sure we will be ready and will turn this around.
"We have to keep positive. It is important not to change too much.
"It has worked for us, we have been successful doing what we have been doing in training day-in, day-out and that won't change.
"The mood has been good throughout the squad and we have to keep it going."
Aberdeen captain Ryan Jack will return from illness against Motherwell.
Mark Reynolds and Peter Pawlett both played 90 minutes for the under-20s in midweek.
Lionel Ainsworth is a major doubt for Motherwell. The winger has not trained this week because of a knock and is expected to miss out.
Left-back Steven Hammell remains on the sidelines with a groin/hernia problem.
Mark McGhee admits it could take up to 15 games before he can really get to know his Motherwell players.
McGhee experimented with defender Louis Laing in midfield on his first game back as manager last Saturday, which ended in a 1-0 defeat by Celtic, and started experienced players such as Keith Lasley and Scott McDonald on the bench given he knew all about their talents.
The Motherwell players have been training five days this week to give McGhee more time to familiarise himself with his squad and the learning process will continue at Pittodrie on Saturday, when Aberdeen will be looking to return to the top of the Ladbrokes Premiership.
McGhee said: "We have played a lot of full-size games trying to get to know them and trying to work out how we can work with them to improve. We've tried to explore what levels their fitness are and it's good. The players have really worked hard.
"They have still to prove who my best 11 are. I will pick an 11 that looks like the best 11 this week. Who the best 11 are next week remains to be seen from what happens on Saturday and during the week. There will be a bit of changing here and there until we fully get to grasp it."
Source: PAR
