James Wilson has admitted he considered calling time on his football career after leaving Manchester United in the summer.
Wilson made his move to Aberdeen permanent by penning a two-year deal in Scotland despite managing only four goals in 32 appearances in all competitions on loan last term.
It followed temporary spells at Brighton , Derby and Sheffield United in the Championship as Wilson struggled to cement a first-team place at Old Trafford despite playing 17 times in the 2014-15 season.
He scored twice on his debut against Hull in the previous campaign, but his career at Old Trafford did not pan out as many expected.
Wilson, 23, was left without a contract for the first time in his career in the summer and says he could have packed in - but ultimately his love of the game kept him going.
"I think it was a bit of a turning point," he told the Daily Mail. "I could have packed it in if I wanted to, but I don't want to because I love the game.
"I could easily have gone into something else, but that is not what I wanted to do at this point.
"It was never in the back of my mind — well, it must have been because I'm telling you that now, but it wasn't something I considered."
