Aberdeen captain Ryan Jack praises 'excellent' Craig Storie
Aberdeen captain Ryan Jack has been delighted to see Craig Storie emerge as a first-team contender during his latest spell on the sidelines.
With Jack and Willo Flood both out with hamstring injuries since the turn of the year, 20-year-old Storie has made four starts in central midfield and earned himself a new two-year contract in the process.
Storie performed well in Aberdeen's recent win over Celtic and set up their goal in their defeat by Inverness last week with a bursting run and perfectly-timed pass to Adam Rooney.
Jack and Flood are both vying for recalls for the Ladbrokes Premiership game against St Johnstone at Pittodrie but the Dons skipper has told Storie to keep enjoying his breakthrough.
"Craig's done excellent," said Jack, who is set for his first appearance of 2016. "We always knew, even from the start of the season, he has great ability. He's a good lad as well in the dressing room.
"It was great to see him get his chance when me and Willo were both out and he grabbed it with both hands.
"He has been excellent, he has fully deserved his new deal. Hopefully that will kick him on and he can go on and do better things.
"I pulled Craig aside myself and told him, 'You are doing really well, just keep going because there will always be ups and downs in football. While you are on the up, you want to keep it going'.
"Craig's an honest guy, he knows himself he has done well and there is more to come from him.
"You want to see young players come through the ranks like myself and Peter (Pawlett)."
Jack has only played four matches since November 7 and hopes his injury problems are behind him.
"I had my ankle injury then I got back and now I've had my hamstring injury," the 23-year-old said.
"It has been frustrating but it's important that I have had good people around me, keeping me upbeat. I'm feeling fit and sharp so I'm ready to go."
But Aberdeen are without suspended right-back Shay Logan and winger Jonny Hayes, who is sidelined with a hamstring injury.
Liam Craig claims St Johnstone will take encouragement from their goalscoring record against Aberdeen this season when they visit Pittodri.
Saints stunned the then leaders last October with a 5-1 win in Aberdeen and then scored three times in the 4-3 defeat when the teams met again at McDiarmid Park earlier in the month.
Fifth-placed Saints have won only once since December 5 but Craig insists confidence should be high when they face the Dons, who are now chasing league leaders Celtic.
The 29-year-old midfielder told Press Association Sport: "We have scored eight goals in two games against Aberdeen this season and not many have done that, so we will take confidence from that.
"(The 5-1 win) is probably the best result of the season, with the run Aberdeen were on at the time.
"But in terms of performance, it sounds stupid, but you came away from the game thinking, 'how did we win that 5-1 because Aberdeen definitely didn't deserve that?'.
St Johnstone's 2-0 defeat to Partick Thistle at Firhill on Tuesday night kept Tommy Wright's men one point behind Ross County but only seven ahead of second-bottom Kilmarnock.
The former Falkirk and Hibernian player insists the battle at both ends of the table will go all the way to the end of the season.
"There is not too much between any of the teams," he said.
"Celtic aren't running away with it. It is good for the league because of that competition.
"We are nearly into March and bottom side Dundee United can catch 11th place, and anyone from fourth place right down to 11th could finish in 11th place.
"So we have to look up and be positive. We have a run of games coming up with Aberdeen, Partick again, Ross County and Inverness and those four games will determine whether we will be in the top six or not."
Source: PAR
