How are you getting on with looking to get back into the game after your departure from Ayr United, and how are you combining that with your role at the PFA?“I am probably where I expected to be, mo...
How are you getting on with looking to get back into the game after your departure from Ayr United, and how are you combining that with your role at the PFA?
“I am probably where I expected to be, more or less at this stage.
“I had an injury that dragged on a bit longer than we’d hoped, and that crept into the summer. I had to rehab and get myself back fit and fortunately, I am now. It’s just about being ready and waiting for whatever comes next.
“I’m at a stage in my career where I’m open to new challenges, possibly trying something different, but I still want to play football. I want to be physically and mentally ready for whatever comes.
“At the same time, the PFA is something I’ve been involved in for a long time because it’s close to my heart and something I care a lot about. Over the last two or three years, I’ve taken on a more proactive role as chair of the union. That means being there more regularly, working on different projects, and getting involved in campaigns.
“The two roles go hand in hand. Fraser Wishart, the CEO, has been great because he understands that football commitments come first and works around my schedule.”
Last season at Ayr United, the consensus from fans was that when you were fit and on the pitch, you were one of the standout players in the team. Does that give you motivation now that you’re back fit?
“Absolutely. Last season, results and performances picked up, and the way the team was set up really suited me. I’d just come back from injury, and we went on a run. Playing in a back three, in a familiar position, helped me a lot. As the team grew in confidence, so did I.
“We got ourselves to the top of the league at one point. That run reminded me, and hopefully others, that I can still play an important role in a team. I know what I’m capable of, and now it’s about being ready to contribute wherever I go next.”
“I’m immensely proud to have achieved three international caps for Scotland, and proud of what it represents. But more than anything, I’m proud that I was able to give something back to my parents and my family, and that they had the chance to see me represent my country. I’m very aware that I wouldn’t be where I am, and I certainly wouldn’t have achieved what I have, without their support. That’s always been the biggest thing for me.
“In terms of it being a dream – if I’m honest – it wasn’t something I really contemplated growing up. Of course, like any young boy or girl, you imagine playing at Hampden, you dream about pulling on the Scotland shirt. But deep down, I’m not sure I ever truly believed it would be possible.
“It was only when I went to Aberdeen and started playing regularly that things began to change. There was a bit of talk, results were going well, and I started to feel like maybe this could become a reality.
“So, while I’m not sure I genuinely believed as a child that I’d play for Scotland, it was always an aspiration, and thankfully, I ended up in a position where I was able to do it.”
What is the biggest difference between playing at club level and playing for Scotland?
“I think there were numerous things, to be honest. One of the biggest was the attention to detail. I had an incredible experience working under Steve Clarke, and I learned a huge amount from that by just seeing how he operated, the level of detail he went into, how he analysed both us and the opposition, and how he set up the team.
“The quality of training was also a real eye-opener as the intensity and the standard of my teammates really gave me a clear picture of what the top level looks like, both on the training pitch and in games.
“For me, one of the standout differences at that level is decision-making and just how ruthless players are. That’s what separates the top from the rest. If you make a mistake or give them a chance, they usually take it. They consistently make the right decisions and, more importantly, they have the ability to execute those decisions.
“We hear a lot in football about decision-making, but at international level and the highest levels of club football, it’s the consistency with which players make the right choice and then carry it out that really sets them apart.
“And I think, particularly as a defender, you feel that difference. If you’re even a yard or two out of position, if you switch off for a split second, you’re punished. At certain clubs or levels throughout my career, you might get a second chance, a moment to recover. But at international level, ‘ruthless’ is the word I’d use. Any opportunity you give, you’re punished for it.”
At the start of your career, you broke into the Hamilton Accies first team as a teenager following loan spells at Stenhousemuir. How important was that in your development?
“Crucial. Any young player I speak to now, I always say, if you can get out and play senior football, do it. It’s a real learning curve. As a centre-back, I wasn’t physically ready to play first-team football at Hamilton straight away. My time at Stenhousemuir was eye-opening.
“It’s not just about the physical side. It’s also dealing with the pressure of having to win, week in, week out. It’s nothing like academy football. Players are fighting for win bonuses, to avoid relegation, or for promotion. These games affect livelihoods. That pressure changes everything.
“You’re up against experienced men. It exposes your weaknesses, and you have to learn fast. That experience took me a step closer to being ready for Hamilton’s first team.”
What were the highlights from your time at Hamilton?
“Playing under Alex Neil during his time in charge was fantastic. We managed to go away to Celtic Park and beat Celtic 1-0 which was an incredible achievement because it was the first time in 76 years that the club had won at Celtic Park.
“Not only to win the game but to keep a clean sheet away from home against a side that contained the likes of Virgil Van Dijk, Scott Brown and Kris Commons was remarkable too.
“We also went top of the league after that game, which took place at the start of October. That emphasised the progress we were making in our first season back in the Premiership for a few years.
“However, the bigger thing was the belief we had. No one got carried away; we genuinely felt we could win that game. We were part of a special group. It was no surprise when Norwich City came in for him soon after that victory.
“Another highlight was being named captain at 22. That showed a lot of trust from Martin Canning, who replaced Alex Neil. It meant a lot, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time working under him, too.”
“I was six months into recovering from my second ACL injury. My contract was running down. There were some doubts – both mine and from the club – about whether I’d come back the same player.
“However, despite that, Aberdeen came in for me. They were a team that had finished second three years in a row, played in Europe, reached cup finals, so it was a massive boost to know that a club of that size and a manager like Derek McInnes had that level of faith in me.
“As soon as I knew I could speak to Derek McInnes, I would’ve walked to Aberdeen.
“It felt like the right step. One I was ready for and really excited about.
“He knows how to win. He keeps it simple, but he’s clear and direct in what he wants. His teams always look similar by playing attacking football with high energy, quick transitions, pace out wide, and goals through the middle.
“At Aberdeen, the standard was winning. Drawing wasn’t good enough. Losing wasn’t good enough. That was the mindset. Coming from Hamilton, where survival was often the aim, it was a big shift, but one I loved. The expectations at Aberdeen were much higher, and that started with the manager.”
You mentioned the fact that you have suffered ACL injuries in your career. I often think that injuries are something fans often don’t see beyond a player being described as ‘unavailable.’ Can you describe the reality of the journey for a player when recovering from an injury?
“I couldn’t agree more. There’s a great deal of ignorance – particularly in football – around what injured players, and players in general, have to endure. The level of mental toughness and resilience required to navigate a career in this sport is immense.
“Football is incredibly volatile. Injuries are a major part of that, and while we accept that risk, I don’t think anyone truly understands it until they experience it themselves. Over the years, I’ve had countless conversations with teammates who – until they witnessed others go through long-term injuries – were able to acknowledge it’s difficult, but they never truly grasped how tough it is until they experienced it firsthand.
“There are a million thoughts racing through your head when you suffer a long-term injury. As I mentioned earlier, you start questioning whether you’ll ever return to your previous level. That first time you’re injured long-term, you almost go into autopilot and you tell yourself, ‘Okay, I’m injured, I need surgery if required, or I’ll begin the rehab process, and eventually I’ll get back on the pitch and back to playing.’
“But when it happens a second or third time, you begin to understand just how demoralising and draining that process can be and also how isolating it is. You’re no longer following the team’s daily schedule. Mentally, it becomes incredibly challenging.
“In my experience, those were some of the lowest moments of my career – not poor performances or mistakes during matches, but those long stretches of injury where I was truly struggling mentally. You feel completely detached from the thing you’re paid to do, which is to play football.
“Rehabilitation is rarely a linear process. There are setbacks, disruptions, and ultimately, it’s part of it. But how you manage yourself mentally is the most critical factor in getting through it. And frankly, I don’t think we’re given the tools, or even the conversations, to help us deal with that aspect.
“At clubs now, we have sports scientists, we have physios, and we know how to treat the body physically. But we seldom talk about how we care for the mind. Until we begin to treat the mental and physical as one and the same – until we acknowledge that the mental capacity to deal with the ups and downs is just as crucial – we’ll continue to face challenges. Players across the country and across the world will continue to struggle with their mental health. Injuries are a huge part of that. 100%. And I think it’s so important to underline that.”
Finally, Michael, looking to the future, do you see yourself going into coaching or continuing your work with the PFA beyond your playing days?
“I’m not sure yet. Part of me thinks it would be good to do something completely different. But another part of me feels like I’d have something to offer in coaching, especially from the experience I’ve had at different levels.
“There’s also real value in the work we do at the union. Trying to make a change for players is something that really matters to me. So that could be a route, too.
“For now, I’m just trying to prepare – study, learn, be a sponge – so that when the time comes to step away from playing, I’ve given myself the best chance to land on my feet.”
Category: General Sports
