Pawlett hopes goals get him more games

Peter Pawlett hopes his matchwinning strike against Kilmarnock will convince Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes to give him some regular action.

The midfielder smashed home with five minutes remaining as the Dons fought back from a goal down to claim a 2-1 success at Rugby Park.

But his substitute run-out was just his 15th appearance of the season - with only six starts.

Pawlett has found his path to the Reds’ starting line-up blocked by the impressive form of Kenny McLean, Ryan Jack, Graeme Shinnie and now on-loan Celtic playmaker Ryan Christie.

But the 26-year-old believes he may now have done enough to persuade his manager he is worthy of more game time.

He told RedTV: “Scoring goals is the best feeling, especially when you are scoring last-minute winners. It was a goal I will enjoy for a while.

“We were not at our best but thankfully Jayden Stockley and myself have come up with the goods.

“You want to score as many goals as you can but my game time has not been as much as I would have wanted recently

“Therefore I was just delighted to be on the pitch and scoring goals again. Long may it continue.”

Pawlett also struck during last week’s 7-2 romp over Motherwell and he reckons he is now fulfilling his part after being encouraged by McInnes to add goals to his game.

The former Scotland Under-21 cap – who also struck against Killie back in December – said: “I have scored in the past two games that I have come on so I am doing what I need to do.

“I need to be influencing games when I get a chance, whether it be from the start or when I come off the bench. I have to take my chances. I need to keep working hard and keep having a positive attitude.

“Every game is different. The game last Wednesday night was a superb performance, we were unbelievable at times. But you can’t win every game like that. Sometimes you have to win ugly.

“We did that on Sunday and we are all delighted with the three points.”