KEVIN Nisbet revealed the belief shown in him by Aberdeen first-team coach Peter Leven was a key factor in his decision to join the club in the summer.
Nisbet, 27, scored his third goal in five games in the 2-1 win at Dundee last Saturday as Jimmy Thelin’s Dons maintained their 100 per cent start to the Scottish Premiership season with a sixth successive victory.
Scotland international Nisbet is already only two goals off his total for the whole of last season when he scored five goals in 29 games for Millwall after moving on a permanent deal from Hibernian in the summer.
Nisbet struggled with injury and was then out of favour with Lions head coach Neil Harris at the end of the campaign before he returned to Scotland on a season-long loan.
Nisbet is grateful for the support shown by Leven as he explained the coach’s influence in convincing him to move to Pittodrie.
“That is what you need in our career,” Nisbet told the Scottish press. “If you look at the clubs where I have done well, the gaffer or assistant has faith in me and got my back. Clubs like Raith, Dunfermline and Hibs I have always had that.
“Peter was a big factor in me coming up. He was probably the biggest factor and the Scotland issue (getting back into the squad) as well.
“I am delighted to be back up and playing games. Pete was massive. We have the same agent, Nicky Nicholson, and that helps. Pete called me and he was quite persistent.
“He called me and called me. I have known him for a while. He told me come up here and we will get you back firing, playing games and scoring goals. I started to look into things more. I looked at the gaffer’s philosophy and what he did at other clubs. I liked what I saw and I thought it would suit me. I made my decision and it was a case of getting it done as quickly as possible.
“He told me in that first phone call I am going to be on you 24/7, which is what I need. He will always be at me. He helps me in training and we do extra work and sessions. We go through clips as well. That is what I need and what I have needed when I have done well. He is very persistent.”
