Jack MacKenzie took some time out during our trip to Atlanta to speak to RedTV at Atlanta United’s training ground. Jack was due to come on loan to Atlanta United’s B team in 2020 but the move was called off due to the Covid pandemic. To watch the interview in full on RedTV, please click on the red button.

“The trip has been really good. We weren’t expecting it to be this cold, I think it is colder here than it is back home! Wednesday was great getting the opportunity to play against a different team and then afterwards we had the meet and greet. It was great to see so many different faces, people came from all over America to see us, it was very special for everyone. It was a really good moment for the club. Hearing the stories that people went to come and see us, it does make you feel special and you do realise how big a club Aberdeen is. The fact that so many people were willing to travel to see us was very special.

“The facilities here are top notch, it is a brilliant setting, to come here as a player to train has been brilliant.

“I was actually meant to come on loan to Atlanta. I remember we were coming back from our winter training camp in 2020 in Dubai and Derek McInnes pulled me aside and said there was this opportunity for me to come here on loan. At the time I was thinking I have to travel half way across the world, do I fancy it? The more I looked into it, the more I warmed to the idea.

“A couple of weeks down the line I was dying to go. I was a week away from going then covid hit and everything stopped. I was absoueltly gutted with it and I ended up going on loan to Forfar! It is a wee bit different! Having seen the facilities and the city it was an opportunity I was gutted to have missed out on. Hopefully some of the younger players coming up can get that opportunity.”