Dean Campbell in determined Aberdeen revival vow as he targets Pittodrie return after Stevenage promotion

Dean Campbell has a John McGinn shirt and his own Stevenage giantkilling jersey from the day he helped slay Aston Villa in the FA Cup.

But the young midfielder still has plenty more he wants to add to his collection, as he looks to end this season with another title win and a promotion. Campbell then hopes to return north in the summer to grab the top he really wants – his Aberdeen one back. The 21-year-old came through the ranks at Pittodrie to become the Dons' youngest player and the club, via loans manager Neil Simpson, have been keeping a close eye on his development in England’s League Two title race.

Campbell said: “It was always going to be an important year for me. I said if I wasn’t going to play as much football as I would have liked at Aberdeen then I wanted to go out on loan. It was always my aim to go out to try to do as well as I can to show Aberdeen I am worthy of a new contract. Aberdeen are my hometown club, the team I support. There will always be something between us.

“I’d love to play for Aberdeen but who knows what will happen? We haven’t got to the contract side of things. I will just take it as it comes over the coming months. If that is not the case then I just have to do the best I can and then see what options that brings in the summer.”

The midfielder didn’t get a look-in under Jim Goodwin but that is likely to change now. When Goodwin first arrived Campbell was out on loan helping Kilmarnock get back to the top flight.

He returned to Pittodrie in the summer but rather than sit on the fringes decided on a challenge south of the border, where Stevenage are pushing Leyton Orient all the way for the title. He said: “It has been really enjoyable so far. I always wanted to play in England and