Derek McInnes was the first West Brom player to ever be sent off in the Premier League. He laughs. “I’ve been sent off twice in my career. Once against Berwick Rangers and once against Man Utd!”

If you’re going to do something, do it with gusto. McInnes is the much-coveted manager in charge of Aberdeen, an ex-Scotland international who began his playing career at Greenock Morton, appeared in the Champions League for Rangers and captained West Brom in the Premier League along a journeyman-like path.

In charge at Pittodrie since March 2013, the 46-year-old has taken the club from a middling stay in the Scottish Premiership to winning silverware and offering a genuine challenge in a one-horse title race. How?

“I think you’ve got to have an idea, an identity to your team,” says McInnes, who is preparing his side to host league leaders Celtic on Sunday.

“I’ve always felt a team is an extension of the manager really. I wanted a team with attitude, pace, energy.

“In every team I played in there were always better players than me in it but I knew the importance that I felt from my teammates towards me and what I could bring to them.