Graeme Shinnie admits Aberdeen Euro nights are stuff of dreams as homecoming reignites football love affair

The stark contrast isn’t lost on Graeme Shinnie.

From a relegation, docked points, withheld wages and an uncertain future at Wigan. To leading out his boyhood club Aberdeen as Pittodrie skipper in a European group-stage tie. That was the reality for Shinnie on Thursday night as the Dons picked up a point in the Conference League against HJK Helsinki.

A matter of months ago, he wasn’t sure whether he’d even get back to Pittodrie. Previous club Wigan were a mess after relegation to League One. Players weren’t getting paid in the midst of a takeover that eventually went through once Shinnie had returned to the Granite City. It was one of the most challenging periods of his career as he desperately tried to engineer a move back home. But in midweek he played his part as Barry Robson’s side kept their good form going against the Finns after a sensational win over Rangers at Ibrox.

Shinnie looks back to his best. And given what he endured at Wigan, he savoured every second of being captain for a huge European night.

He said: “It’s been a long time coming! Those are the nights I dreamed of.

“It was tough during my first spell at Aberdeen because we had so many qualifying games just to get to the group stage. Now Scotland is in a good place with third in the league getting you automatic Conference League qualification.

“The atmosphere against Helsinki was amazing and to lead the team out on a night like that is the reason that I came back. It’s certainly different to Wigan. But that’s football, it’s mad.

“This is the place I consider home. It’s the place I love and it was difficult to move away when I did. But I needed that fresh challenge and something different in my career.

“I’m not going to lie, Wigan was tough. I played