DANNY WARD insists Aberdeen’s blip in recent times, after just one clean sheet in eight games and five points from a possible 21, is over as he prepares to impress a newcomer to his working life – the Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
Ward, whose performances in goal for Aberdeen since his arrival on loan from Anfield at the start of the season have impressed the Pittodrie fans, was summoned south to meet his new boss and left encouraged that, despite being hundreds of miles from the mother ship, he hasn’t been forgotten.
The 22-year-old, a star for Aberdeen in an opening Ladbrokes Premiership run of eight wins, joined Klopp at Melwood, Liverpool’s training complex, during the international break and was pleased to be told the club is happy with his progress.
"I have loved it up here at Aberdeen,“ he said in the build-up to today’s visit of Ross County, “and the aim was always to play in as many first team games as possible at what is a very good level.
"A lot of people down south didn't know who I was, never mind up here, so the exposure I've had in the Scottish Premiership has been fantastic.
"Hopefully that can continue for the rest of the season and it spurs me on to keep doing well now we have a new manager at Liverpool.
"He is very happy with me being here and getting so much good experience because he knows it is a big year for my development with so many big games.
"He is very keen to get to know all the boys who went out on loan when Brendan Rogers was manager as he is very hands on and is aware of what everyone is up to.
"I really enjoyed working under Brendan and now I'm looking forward to doing working under Jurgen in the future.
"Liverpool got a great result away to Manchester City last weekend and he just has this real aura and presence about him.
"He is quite a fascinating character. I certainly found that when I met him, but for the moment the priority is to continue learning under Derek McInnes [the Aberdeen manager] and the guys at Pittodrie.”
Aberdeen have been brought back down to earth in recent games, though they have still accumulated more points than they did at the corresponding time last season.
Their defence has been rather shaky, however, a flaw Ward believed had now been ironed-out.
"There was always going to be a stage in the season when we hit a blip,” he insisted, “and we didn't want it to go on as long as it has done.
"There was always going to be a level of expectation and pressure on us to keep that up and maybe it's something that some of the lads haven't been used to.”
Aberdeen will again be without Ryan Jack, their captain, for the visit of the Staggies. The midfielder is unavailable for the second successive week because of an ankle injury.
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