This afternoon Scott McKenna and Joe Nuttall went out on emergency loans. Scott has re-joined Ayr United in the Championship and Joe will be playing for League One side Stranraer. U20s coach Paul Sheerin spoke www.afc.co.uk about the moves.

“It is a great opportunity for both boys.

“Scott has been out on loan before but it is the first-time Joe has been out.

“He is one that now needs to keep being tested. It is a fresh challenge for Joe, he has been around the club for a little while. He has shown that he can score goals at U20 level and now he needs to go and score goals at a higher level.

“Playing in League football, you have teams fighting promotion and relegation, you have players playing for win bonuses. It is totally different to what they get in the Development League. Joe is going to Albion Rovers on Saturday and that will be a tough introduction to League One football if he makes his debut. It will be a great test for Joe.

“It is what the young boys need. They have to get out and realise what the game is all about. I played most of my football down at that level. It is a tough environment and I don’t think young boys realise how good a standard it is. You have journeymen players who have played at that level for a lot of years, they are very wise to the game. They have a completely different outlook to what our youth players are used to.

“Scott is going to Ayr where he has been before. We know they are a good side as they gave us a very tough night in the League Cup earlier this season. At the moment, they are struggling a little bit at the wrong end of the table but that league is so tight in terms of results. A couple of wins can totally change your position. The standard of the Championship, it is great for Scott to be tested at that level but he is more than ready for that. Scott has proven himself on loan in the past and it is no surprise clubs want to get him back out there.”

There are now eight Aberdeen players out on loan but as Paul reveals their progress is followed very closely.

“All our boys out of loan are constantly monitored.

“This is done in various ways. There is obviously a rapport with the managers and our management team and they speak on a regular basis. It is hard for us to get out and watch games on a Saturday but we do have people out there watching them all the time. We are always aware of how well they are doing. More often than not the reports coming back are good.”

Of the boys out on loan, Daniel Harvie and Robbie Mutch are on development loans which mean they can still play for Paul’s U20 side and have done so recently. Robbie was called up to the Scotland U21 squad this week but unfortunately had to withdraw because of injury. Meanwhile left back Daniel has been playing regularly in the Championship for Dumbarton and his form has been very impressive.

“Danny comes back and joins us at the start of the week and you can see the difference in him already, his maturity and his ability when defending. We wanted him to be stronger in one v one situations and from that aspect, he is a different player. He just looks a much more confident player. The run of games is benefiting him.

“For the bulk of the players who are in the 19, 20 age bracket and are getting towards the final year of being able to play 20s, they need to be tested at that level at some stage.

“Also with boys joining other clubs on loan, it gives opportunities to others.

“With Joe going out and with it not being within the transfer window, it is not like a development loan where he can come back and play for us. So there is opportunities now for other players such as Bruce Anderson and David Dangana.

“There are also more opportunities for some of the boys within the U17s who are doing very well this season and also a few of the boys within the Academy below that age group, the likes of Dean Campbell, Terry Taylor and Ethan Ross who played in the Development League at the end of last season. Even if it is just an involvement and being in and around the 20s squad, they get to see how we prepare for games so if they do make the step up it is easier for them to adjust.”