Aberdeen take disciplinary action as Duk goes AWOL

Dante Polvara is injured while Duk (right) is also missing from the Dons squad

Aberdeen say they are taking disciplinary action against Duk after the Cape Verde forward "failed to report to training and is currently absent without permission".

The 24-year-old is not in the Dons squad for Saturday's Premier Sports Cup group-stage opener away to Queen of the South.

Aberdeen had previously said that Duk missed the club’s training camp in Portugal on medical grounds and manager Jimmy Thelin would only say on Friday that his continued absence was because of "internal issues".

But a club spokesman has now explained that Aberdeen had "made attempts to communicate with Duk, but he has refused to engage with us directly".

"He is now subject to internal disciplinary proceedings," the spokesman said.

"We're naturally disappointed with the situation but can't say anything further at this stage."

The former Benfica B player, who is in the final year of his contract, has been linked with a move away from Pittodrie.

As he looked forward to his first competitive game in charge, Thelin said: "With Duk, he is not going to be inside the squad.

"Right now, we have some internal issues about the Duk situation."

Chief executive Alan Burrows recently said Duk, or any other player, will only be allowed to leave if the club's valuation is met.

Dante Polvara is another player Thelin will be unable to call upon, after the midfielder was ruled out for up to 16 weeks after injuring his hamstring in training.

"For us he is an important player, now it is our job to push him," said the new Dons boss.

"He is a really nice guy, positive guy, so we have to create the feeling about the future and support him in this process so he can come back even stronger.

"We have some ideas already on how we can support him but also what he can bring to the team.

"We told him yesterday he is going to be a super expert in offensive set plays now. He is going to be like a coach sometimes and help in training sessions to feel close to the team and important for the team still."