Stewart: ‘I learned a lot in England’

Greg Stewart sealed his loan move to Aberdeen this week to put an end to his unsuccessful spell at Birmingham City.

A great emphasis was put on signing the Scottish attacker by former manager Gary Rowett last summer. And while Stewart showed glimpses of promise, his short stint at St. Andrews has been plagued by circumstances.

The 27-year-old had three managers during his solitary year in the second city.

His first challenge was to overcome the departure of the man who signed him. After Rowett was replaced by Gianfranco Zola, Stewart was fighting a losing battle.

During Zola’s training sessions, Stewart was being earmarked for an unfamiliar wing back role which never materialised on the pitch.

Zola, whose disastrous spell in the dugout came to an end on Easter Monday, was replaced by Harry Redknapp. But the 70-year-olds immediate remit was simply to avoid relegation by any means.

Redknapp ensured that Blues went back to basics and perhaps didn’t have the time to work with Stewart leading to his eventual exit to The Dons.

Stewart, who clocked up just 22 apeerances at Blues – mostly from the bench, is the first to admit that his time in the Midlands didn’t work out.

Speaking to Aberdeen’s official website, Stewart said – ‘Last season was disappointing personally, I didn’t play as much and I want to prove to myself what level I can get to’.

He continued – ‘I’m at that age where I need to be playing football. Aberdeen is a massive club. The chance to work under the manager as well was always in my thinking. Hopefully he can get the best out of me. From my time in England, you learn a lot. I probably did not play as much as I would have liked but that is football for you. I just want to come up here and play as many games as I can’.