In a room full of Aberdeen supporters, it is doubtful if there would be a dissenting voice over any claim that Jonny Hayes is Pittodrie’s most exciting player. His displays this season have been both entertaining and productive, culminating in the call from Martin O’Neill to join the Republic of Ireland squad for the games against Switzerland and Slovakia.

It was an extremely good Good Friday for him when he pulled on the green jersey against the Swiss in the Aviva Stadium, Dublin, a debut cap that at one time he considered unachievable.

Yet, early on in the Aberdeen reign of Derek McInnes, the Dons manager recognised such a possibility in a winger with blistering pace and the heart of a lion, but perhaps lacking in psychological swagger.

Hayes would not demur on such an assessment, especially were he to review his career before Craig Brown, then manager, took him to Pittodrie four years ago following the winger’s three seasons and 85 appearances for Inverness Caledonian Thistle and before that, a long list of clubs – principally as a loanee – from his start at Reading to a temporary appointment at Cheltenham Town.

Hayes’s fortunes, according to McInnes, have turned because of a shift in attitude and a new-found self-belief and while the player himself adopts a self-effacing approach to probing questions, deep down he will be aware that the improvements in his game are down to diligence.

“Everybody knew Jonny was a good player,” McInnes said, “and had the ability to change games and score goals and assist but he’s done that on such a consistent basis over the last 18 months or so and that has helped him become involved in the inter- national set-up. It shows what can be done and it helps us as a club because not only do you try to get your players promoted to that level, when you try to recruit, you can list a number of international players.”

Hayes is in good company. His team-mate, Kenny McLean, was handed his Scotland debut against the Czech Republic, while Niall McGinn was on duty with Northern Ireland and striker Simon Church scored from the penalty spot for Wales in the 1-1 draw against McGinn’s side.

But what made McInnes believe Hayes could make the step to such a level?

“Firstly, I wanted to get Jonny fitter and demonstrate the speed he has,” he insisted.

“He adds such a dynamic to our team, wherever you play him – wide, midfield or even at left-back. The ability to show that pace and then recover and go again and again is down to him because he has got himself into really good condition to be able to do that.

“He’s a player who maybe thought international football was beyond him and the fact that he has now been given that recognition will push him on because I do think he was sceptical about it and it’s easy to dismiss as not being important.

“I think a player’s peak time is, for me, between the ages of 27 and 32 in terms that he still has the physical capabilities to do what you need to do, especially wingers and forward players.”

Hayes, meanwhile, was ready to swat away such managerial praise as he prepared to face up to the challenge of hosting Hamilton in today’s lunchtime kick-off, though he did underline McInnes’s early summation of his potential.

“Derek McInnes always said that if I kept performing and kept improving then I would get a chance for my country and he has been proved right.

“That gave me that little bit of extra confidence and self-belief to go on and get a cap for Ireland.

“I never got too optimistic, hoping for something that might never happen or that I particularly aimed for, but the manager has said to me every few days for the last couple of years that I was capable of playing at that level.

“He is probably the person that has had the most belief in me besides my dad and he has constantly been trying to improve me as a player.

“I’m not one to over-analyse my game too much as there’s always someone else there to tell me if I have done well.”

There are plenty of people in the Pittodrie stands happy to concur.