DEREK McINNES would not be prepared to admit it, but when he recruited David Goodwillie in the summer he must have questioned whether he and Adam Rooney could adapt to playing alongside each other.
Goodwillie's nomadic three years after leaving Dundee United for Blackburn Rovers in a £2m deal involved mainly temporary employment as he was loaned to Crystal Palace, back to his former club and then to Blackpool before he was released to find a more permanent home at Aberdeen.
Yet, despite the goals failing to arrive as often as expected - his side had hit just five in as many league games before demolishing Ross County in the SPFL Premiership last weekend - there was a reluctance by McInnes to alter his 4-2-3-1 formation, opting instead to leave Rooney on the bench, until County came to town.
That they linked well and each scored a goal in that game was something of a eureka moment for Aberdeen, repeated in the League Cup third-round tie against Livingston on Tuesday night when they were back together as Rooney hit a hat trick in a 4-0 win, taking his tally to 10 if we count pre-season friendlies and a penalty against Groningen in a Europa League qualifier.
"I came in last January and managed to hit nine last year," he said, "and wanted to get to the 10 mark as soon as possible this season.
"It's nice to get goals but the main thing is to keep getting wins and keep progressing in the league and cups."
And the partnership with the player who was his main rival for the role of solitary striker?
"It's great that we have managed to build a good understanding so early. You can see his qualities and I am sure he will score plenty of goals for us as well," Rooney said.
"I played the lone striker role a lot at Inverness and here last season. I have played in a two at times throughout my career as well but it's nice to have someone up there with me."
John Hughes will take his Inverness Caledonian Thistle side to Pittodrie on Saturday with the Rooney-Goodwillie pairing intent on continuing their recent exploits, though the influence of Jonny Hayes, another former favourite with the Highland club, has also been key to Aberdeen's successes of late.
"Jonny gets into great areas," Rooney added, "and after playing together for so long I kind of have an idea of what he is going to do."
Mr Hughes, you have been warned.
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