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'I'm working towards getting back to PL', says Ex-Man Utd player James Wilson

  /  autty

Aberdeen striker James Wilson wondered whether he had a future in football after finding himself without a contract for the first time in his career last summer.

The former Manchester United starlet, who had been tipped for greatness by ex-Red Devils boss Louis van Gaal and club legend Ryan Giggs, scored four goals in an at-times frustrating loan spell at Pittodrie last season while his lucrative Old Trafford contract ran to its conclusion.

Knowing he would have to leave his boyhood club once his deal had expired and facing a summer of uncertainty, Wilson admits he momentarily considered options outside of the sport altogether.

‘It’s a tough game and a tough industry. I think for me it was about taking it as well as possible. If this isn’t going to happen, what else can I do?

‘Is there something to fall back on? Whether that be inside of football or outside of football. I have thought of things that I can do after my career has finished as well.

‘I thought doing that was good for me, especially not being under contract for the first time.

‘I think it was a bit of a turning point. I could have packed it in if I wanted to, but I don’t want to because I love the game. I could easily have gone into something else, but that is not what I wanted to do at this point.

‘It was never in the back of my mind — well, it must have been because I’m telling you that now, but it wasn’t something I considered.’

Struggling to fulfil the heights expected of him from respected figures in the footballing world added a further degree of pressure.

Wilson added: ‘I do put myself under a lot of pressure, so if people do say “he’s going to be this or going to be that”, then that does sort of come into my head a bit.

‘If it doesn’t work out, it does get a bit frustrating but I’m here for a reason and I’m here to work hard and give it my best.’

He has one eye on getting a regular place in the Aberdeen side but another on the long-term goal of getting back to the English top flight.

‘I’d like to think I’ve not hit my peak yet, so I’m working towards that (getting back to the Premier League),’ he added.

‘I’m coming in every day trying to make myself a better player, a better person, and, if it doesn’t work out, it doesn’t work out.

‘That’s just the way football goes but I’m certainly going to do everything I can within my power to make it happen.’