Leighton Clarkson’s time at Aberdeen proved to be a sleeper success, with the Liverpool midfielder throwing a “curve ball” when it came to his future.
Clarkson last left behind a bad spell with Blackburn when he joined Aberdeen on a season-long deal in August.
The 21-year-old was a regular starter for the Dons, finishing the season with six goals and nine assists in 38 appearances.
It hasn’t all been easy, of course, with Aberdeen posting their worst result in history with a defeat to sixth division Darvel in January, followed by an unsurprising change of manager.
But a late surge to finish third in the Scottish Premiership and book a route to Europe has sparked speculation that Clarkson is joining the club on a permanent basis.
For more insight into Clarkson’s time in Aberdeen and his future, we spoke to Aberdeen Live trainee journalist Ruaraidh Britton (@RuaraidhB).
Despite the tough ride after the World Cup, Clarkson was able to bounce back strongly.
The arrival of Barry Robson saw him adapted to a midfield role and he excelled at creating chances and dictating attacking play.
The return to form has contributed greatly to his performance as he has been able to enjoy his football much more, but it has not been the easiest journey to Europe.
He, like many other members of the Dons team, has risen to the challenge and been rightly rewarded – and it could lead to a breakthrough as he looks to his next career move.
What were its strengths and weaknesses? And what is his best role?
His greatest strength is having the freedom to create chances from a deep position in the middle of the park.
It saw Clarkson provide some great assists for the forwards, but the quality that surprised everyone was on set pieces.
The free-kick against St Mirren that helped seal European football was a perfect example of this and on several occasions he managed to knock a howler out of the bag. However, doubts remain over his ability to dictate a game when the midfield looks overwhelmed, especially in the games against Celtic and Rangers.
It would be a big deal for Clarkson to work to add a Fabinho-like defensive element, stopping attacks early on, but at the end of a season-long rollercoaster ride in which he shone sitting at the bottom of Aberdeen’s midfield.
Watching Clarkson in the 40-plus games was a mixed bag considering his six goals and nine assists spread throughout the season.
There are games where you have to look closer to see what he can do.
But seeing him score a stunning free-kick or even his heel against Hibs in November made him a very special talent to watch from the press bench.
There is a very talented player there and we would love to see him back in the Premier League.
Ideally, if he were to return to Aberdeen, you’d feel like it would be another campaign from the flashy game we’ve seen all season.
But he’s a young lad who wants to play regular football, enjoy it, at a club with a sense of belonging and that’s what he got at Pittodrie.
Have you heard that the rumors linking him to Celtic and Rangers are true?
Speculation of a move to Celtic or Rangers seemed to die down pretty quickly and hasn’t really had much of an impact since.
A recent report suggesting interest from Reading seemed bizarre but expected as teams from England’s lower leagues were expected to be interested in bringing them back south of the border, but you can’t see him opting for a club on Reading’s terms.
Last we heard there is an agreement to return to Aberdeen, but now it’s up to Clarkson to make arguably the biggest decision of his career.
It could be leaving Liverpool, the club he loves, and returning to a team where he has become a highly regarded star talent, or continuing to graft onto Merseyside for a chance to break through in a midfield in need of a new lease of life.
Aberdeen really don’t want to lose Clarkson, and it clearly shows.
So he has to think long and hard in his weeks off whether to continue to build on his remarkable campaign or gamble on what Liverpool decide his future should be. Clarkson turns 22 in October and looks unlikely to stay at Liverpool – what can you expect from him next?
In recent comments, Clarkson said he never thought he would move to Scotland and play football for a Premiership club, adding he was surprised at the quality and urged any young player to follow his path .
He appears to be a happy player with his decision and is now seriously considering focusing on his development at a club like Aberdeen.
He has made his name and his talents visible to everyone this season and I can imagine him desperately trying to keep it that way.
The only thing that is difficult for him is getting out of a club like Liverpool, which has incredible appeal.
I cannot imagine an immediate decision because we are a few days from the end of the seasons in England and Scotland and he must find the maturity to make the big decision.
But considering how well he played for the Dons and how much he enjoyed his frequent appearances, there could well be a desire to be back at Pittodrie next season.
He is a valuable asset to the Aberdeen team and that can only be one more factor in encouraging him to steer his development in the right direction.
