Jimmy Calderwood was the first to comment on the potential being shown by Peter Pawlett, then just a 17-year-old winger with a bright future and a turn of pace which was likely to fast-track him into the first team at Aberdeen.

Five years on from that introduction from his former manager and Pawlett has had to contend with a more distrustful commentary from some quarters; the player accused of spending too much of his time on the treatment table, at least when he wasn't practising the dark art of simulation.

His reputation took another knock a year ago when the emergence of Ryan Fraser - who has since moved on to Bournemouth - left the winger so close to the fringes at Aberdeen that he ended up in Perth, albeit that loan move to St Johnstone has had a telling effect on Pawlett's nascent career. It was there he met Graham Kirk, a sports scientist who has found a solution to the former's constant hamstring problems.

Pawlett is now back in vogue at Aberdeen but he has kept in touch with Kirk to ensure his fitness does not falter, even if his improved condition could still injure St Johnstone's chances of victory today when they alight at Pittodrie. "I'd tried so many things and when I went to St Johnstone I worked with Graham and the best results came from that," said Pawlett. "We still keep in touch and he keeps me up-to-date on what I should be doing."

Regular yoga sessions with Callum Davidson - the former St Johnstone defender who is now assistant to manager, Tommy Wright - also aided Pawlett's pursuit of fitness. He has come to be considered a good fit for Derek McInnes' side and is relishing his new lease of life at Pittodrie.

Pawlett's sunny dispostion is still tripped up by an enduring perception that he takes a dive - one not helped by the booking he was given unfairly during a defeat by Hearts last week. "I'm hoping that [being booked] isn't a reputation thing," he added. "It's in the back of your mind. You think 'are things going against me because of all the hype?' I think sometimes the way I fall doesn't help. That's naturally the way I fall and I'd maybe have to actually dive to change it."

McInnes' reputation among the St Johnstone is not one the Aberdeen manager will be keen to shake. His tenure in Perth brought relative success to the club and Chris Millar, for one, is now looking forward to catching up with his former manager this afternoon.

"He had a big impact on my career. He brought me here from Morton and developed me," said the St Johnstone midfielder. "He gave me a chance to play SPL football and his attention to detail and work ethos is something I have taken from him. Sometimes it's the wee things, a tweak here and a tweak there, that make things better."