Aberdeen

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin admits it is a blow to lose "multi-functional" attacking midfielder Jamie McGrath for a lengthy spell.

Republic of Ireland international McGrath, 28, who is out of contract in the summer, has had shoulder surgery and will be sidelined for "a number of months", say the club.

McGrath has made 27 Dons appearances this season, scoring five goals.

Speaking before Saturday's Premiership visit of St Mirren, Thelin said: "It is [a blow], he is really good at helping us create chances and is a multi-functional player who can play in different positions, is always giving everything.

"For me it is most important that the player is coming back and we can push and help them.

"You always want every player available but it is also for the individual, the player himself being out of the team for two or three months, and Gavin [Molloy – already out with a shoulder injury] the same, we have to be there to support them."

There is also bad news concerning American midfielder Dante Polvara, who last month played his first game since May following a hamstring injury.

Thelin said: "He had some small setback in his leg so let's see how long a time he will take."

On a more positive note, Aberdeen were boosted by the long-awaited return of Senegales striker Pape Habib Gueye - the club's top scorer this term - in last weekend's Scottish Cup win over Elgin City.

"He has been talking about that for three months [wanting to start again]," said Thelin.

"He is ready, he is a positive guy, I like his energy and I like that players are pushing and show this ambition to be helping the team.

"There is a lot of energy there, he wants to show himself. He is training well but we also have to take care of him now so we don't get any setbacks."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premiership visit of St Mirren.

Here are the key points from the Dons boss:

• Jamie McGrath will be out "for a couple of months" with a shoulder injury and Dante Polvara is also out after suffering a setback in his recovery from injury. Jack MacKenzie is back available.

• Thelin aims to take the positives from last week's Scottish Cup win over Elgin into their league campaign: "I think we can be a more stable team now."

• Aberdeen are now focused on ending their 12-game winless run in the league, with Thelin admitting the club have endured "a really challenging time".

• On having Pape Habib Gueye back - the striker made his return from injury last weekend - Thelin says "he is a positive guy, I like his energy" and "he is another weapon for us to use".

• He wouldn't be drawn on any possible incomings and outgoings: "We want to keep a balance in the squad."

• On the challenge St Mirren will pose: "Their manager has done a good job, they are really structured."

• Thelin paid tribute to former Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood, who died earlier this week, with the Swede saying he had a "huge impact on the club".

Liam McLeod
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator

There was a collective sigh of relief from the Aberdeen fans in Elgin on Saturday evening as the Dons won for the first time in two months to secure their place in round five of the Scottish Cup.

It looked like it may be a difficult afternoon in Moray as the hosts started brightly but the Premiership side's quality eventually told and it really ought to have been a much more impressive scoreline.

Jimmy Thelin will hope to use the victory at Borough Briggs as a chance to restart the Dons' league form which remains in the doldrums. Saturday brings a visit from St Mirren, another side that has hit the skids recently.

One thing that stood out from the match in Elgin was the Dons' need for a 'number nine' striker who can put away the chances that came the team's way and, just as importantly, fit into the style Thelin wants his side to play.

A new forward should be in the door at some point before the end of the month, with pace one of the attributes the club wants instilled in the frontline.

Such was the strength of the first quarter of the campaign, Bojan Miovski's absence was barely noticeable. However, his loss to the squad is weighing heavy just now, with just one rather fortunate goal against Ross County all Aberdeen have had to show for their efforts in the last six Premiership outings.

Of the January signings, Kristers Tobers and Alexander Jensen appear to have enhanced the team going by their early showings.

Saturday's game at Pittodrie is a huge one with trips to Dundee and Hibernian following it either side of the next Scottish Cup tie.

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• St Mirren have conceded 16 goals from set-pieces (excluding penalties) in the Scottish Premiership this season, more than any other side. Indeed, seven of the last nine non-penalty goals they have conceded in the league have been from set-plays (2 x throw, 2 x free-kick, 3 x corner).

• After their 3-1 victory in August, Aberdeen are looking to win back-to-back home league games against St Mirren for the first time since October 2020, while they last did so within a single season in 2009-10.

• St Mirren have won three of their past four league meetings with Aberdeen (L1). Since the 2022-23 season, against no opponent have the Buddies won more times in the Scottish Premiership than versus Aberdeen (five, level with Hibernian).

• Aberdeen are winless in 12 league games (D4 L8), their longest such run since last going 12 without victory from May to October 1999.

• St Mirren have lost their past four league games, last losing more in a row in the Scottish Premiership in October 2020 (six).

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin insists he will get Jeppe Okkels back to his best at the Dons. (Press & Journal)

Read the rest of Thursday's gossip.

Liam McLeod
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator

The draw for the fifth round of the Scottish Cup provided a very apt tie as Aberdeen and Dunfermline Athletic were paired in the fight for a quarter-final berth.

It comes in the week the sad news was announced that Jimmy Calderwood had lost his battle with dementia. He managed both and provided Dons and Pars supporters with memories that will last a lifetime.

It mustn't be forgotten how far down the hole Aberdeen had gone after several botched managerial appointments in the late 1990s and at the turn of the century.

The decade between winning the League Cup in 1995 and Calderwood taking the reins was pretty grim for Dons fans, with the odd win over the big Glasgow two and two cup final appearances under Ebbe Skovdahl about the extent of the pleasure they could draw from their team.

Club legend Willie Miller arrived back at Pittodrie in 2004 in the role of director of football and Calderwood was in situ not long after to replace Steve Paterson with the team languishing in second bottom having jostled with the spectre of relegation more than once in previous seasons.

Calderwood signed Hearts midfielder Scott Severin, breathed life into what was already in the building and the Dons improved almost immediately. They were unfortunate to miss out on third place in that first campaign.

They finished behind Tony Mowbray's talented Hibernian team that was content to lose 1-0 at home to Rangers on the final day as it meant they could pip Calderwood's men to a spot in the Uefa Cup on goal difference. It was the lesser-spoken about tale on Helicopter Sunday. That result left Aberdeen needing a five-goal victory over Hearts, but they ultimately had to settle for 2-0.

Calderwood built on it, however, and Aberdeen were never out of the top six during his steady tenure though it was cup defeats to lower-league opponents that cost him the job in the end.

Having spoken to him about it, that was a massive regret of his, particularly the calamitous Scottish Cup semi-final loss to Queen of the South in 2008 with a Rangers side running on empty waiting in the final.

However, history will be kind to Calderwood and his time at the club by those who watched the side, with those memorable European exploits against Dnipro, Copenhagen and Bayern Munich incredible high points.

A good man gone but not forgotten.

Aberdeen can still have a fruitful season by clinching European qualification, says manager Jimmy Thelin. (Record), external

Thelin is up for the fight to take the Dons into Europe. (Press and Journal - subscription), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish gossip

Phil Mair
Fan writer

With 13 days left in the window, all eyes will be on Aberdeen Airport, Cormack Park and social media for all the latest faces and names linked with the club.

In what is typically a tough signing month because of higher prices and a limited pool of players, as well as being a window the Dons have a very varied history of success with, it has been refreshing to see deals being completed early and for sizable (rumoured) fees.

There can be no doubts the club are backing Jimmy Thelin to bring in the calibre of players required for his system. Kristers Tobers and Alexander Jensen have both excited fans in their early appearances, with other new arrivals Jeppe Okkels and Alfie Dorrington looking to get up to speed and show the Red Army what they are all about.

The Scottish Cup win against Elgin City - which has set up a fifth-round tie at home to Dunfermline - saw the comeback of Pape Gueye from injury, which everyone will be hoping is the return of an, albeit unexpected, goal machine.

However, the recent winless run further highlighted the need for reinforcements at the top end of the park.

I know Jimmy will have been working closely with the head of recruitment to identify players that fit his system and whoever comes in will get the full backing of the fans. Although if you want my two cents, I will keep pitching Richard Kone from Wycombe!

Hopefully, if a new number nine is to come in this window, they follow the fortunes of previous January acquisitions Adam Rooney and Sam Cosgrove as opposed to the triple January loan of Lewis Hornby, Florian Kamberi and Callum Hendry.

Phil Mair can be found at Red Tinted Glasses, external

Zander Diamond remembers his late former Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood as "a true gentleman and a father figure". (Record), external

Ex-Aberdeen captain Russell Anderson pays tribute to "big personality" Calderwood, who has passed away at the age of 69 and managed the Dons from 2004-2009. (Press and Journal - subscription), external

Full-back Nicky Devlin hopes Aberdeen's 3-0 weekend Scottish Cup win at Elgin City can be the catalyst to an upturn in form and winning the trophy for the first time in 35 years. (Record), external

Devlin, 31, praises the impact of the Dons' January signings. (Press and Journal - subscription), external

Read Monday's Scottish gossip

We asked for your views on Aberdeen's 3-0 win against Elgin City.

Here's what some of you said:

Malky: Can't really gauge anything from this game, a clean sheet, plenty of chances and could and should have been more. I honestly think we are a competent striker away from getting back at it with regards to the League. Slobodan Rubezic should be moved on though, he's a constant liability. Anyway, onto the next round and get the season back on track, hopefully!

Fred: A close first half. Great to get a win and to move into the next round. Still crying out for a striker who can add zest to our attack. Elgin gave us a good game, let's hope this is the start of a winning streak.

Eilidh: A slow start which is natural considering the run of form but once Shayden Morris scored we looked much better and like the Aberdeen of the start of the season albeit against a League Two side. If not for the Elgin goal keeper, it could've been five or six. Great to see Pape Gueye back and glimpses of the Duk of old. Hopefully the result needed to push on now.

Allan: Banana skin avoided. A solid back four with Alexander Jensen looking a steal of a signing. Welcome back big Pape and we ended the match with four strikers going for goal, and only bad luck and a good keeper kept the score down. Duk will kick on from here as he knows he's in the shop window. Sivert Nilsen is a top player and a good anchor but needs a rest.

Chris: We made it tough for ourselves, credit to Elgin. Morris gave us a good lead, Duk had a tough first half and Peter Ambrose looked lost. The substitutes made a real difference, Gaye looked good but rusty, 10 men Elgin helped but also we almost conceded too, Duk's second half was much better. Job done but a long way to go especially up front.

Chris: I believe Jimmy Thelin knows what he's doing, perhaps not the league. However if he won't go to his youth, he needs goals from somewhere. He has the fans and management but he needs to find goals. His signings look the part so find goals, bump Jack MacKenzie and Jamie McGrath, work with those who want a future not those whose head is not in the game. We are behind you!

Aberdeen fans and their players will have breathed a sigh of relief as they eased aside Elgin City to end their 12-game run without a win and reach the Scottish Cup fifth round.

Manager Jimmy Thelin admits the League 2 hosts gave them an early fright but says he saw some good things from his side while stressing there was still work to be done - both with his current players and in the transfer market.

Give us your thoughts whether or not you were at Borough Briggs or saw the game elsewhere.

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Jimmy Thelin praised battling hosts Elgin City as he expressed relief that his Aberdeen side had been able to celebrate a victory with their fans after 12 games without one.

"We have been through a difficult time," the manager told BBC Scotland after the 3-0 win that takes the Dons through to the last 16 of the Scottish Cup. "With the crowd we had today, it was important everyone knew the importance of the game to us."

The Dons survived some early chances created by Allan Hale's hosts before Shayden Morris' 21st-minute opener and a second-half Duk double.

"Allan Hale and Elgin had a lot of energy and had a good performance in the first half and pushed us a lot," he said. "It was a difficult game and all credit to them - they didn't give up.

"The first half was not strong and they were good. They were almost through our back line two or three times and we can't give those kind of chances in this type of game.

"In the end, I saw some good things from our team also and it is a long time since we have won a game and it is good to get that feeling with the fans."

Thelin has been vocal about his desire to add a new striker during January but said "at least we are creating chances".

He added that he has a "strong belief" in the players he does have but stressed that "we still have good work to do" and he was pleased to get "some minutes into the legs" on his new signings.

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Jimmy Thelin insists Aberdeen are giving Elgin City full respect in a competition that can "create dreams".

The Dons begin their Scottish Cup campaign on Saturday by seeking a first win in 13 games when they travel to the fourth-tier side.

Thelin is eagerly anticipating his first taste of the tournament, saying: "For me the cup here and in Sweden is so amazing because you can play these games against teams from different levels and that is the core of football.

"You can create dreams, the passion, that is why the cup is an amazing thing.

"You have to respect the opponent and you have to prepare yourself. Everybody who follows the cups in every corner of the world, things can happen so we have to be ready.

"When you are so close to the fans and you can hear everything that is also a nice spirit and feeling. I am looking forward to the game.

"Everybody always has something to lose, everyone wants to get through. I understand the situation that we are the big team.

"I have been on the other side in cups also and they are going to be ready but of course we're also going to be ready.

"They have done well. We have seen the games now and gone through them and we have a good report about them.

"For me if it's Elgin, Rangers or Hearts, the focus right now is to fix the things we can take care of."

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Jimmy Thelin has been speaking to the media before Aberdeen's fourth-round Scottish Cup tie against Elgin City this weekend.

Here are the key lines from his press conference:

• Striker Pape Habib Gueye - who remains the Dons' top scorer this season - is in the squad and available for his first appearance since September, with Thelin saying: "He's showing on the training pitch that he's hungry to play."

• Thelin says it's "super important" his side - on a club-record equalling sequence of 12 games without a win - avoid an upset at League Two Elgin and have a good cup run as he strives to "raise standards and levels".

• The Swede insists his players can't "can't sit down and cry" amid their woeful run of form "because it's not going to help".

• On the Scottish Cup, Thelin says: "For me the cup here and in Sweden is so amazing because you can play these games against teams from different levels and that is the core of football. You can create dreams, the passion, that is why the cup is an amazing thing."

• On the recent performances of Graame Shinnie and Sivert Heltne Nilsen, Thelin says: "I think every player is trying their best. They have taken big responsibility, they play out of position, they never complain about the amounts of games, they're always available. They have taken big responsibility and a lot of pressure on them, so I'm really happy with them."

• He's expecting a challenging fixture against Elgin and says: "For me, even if it's Elgin or Rangers or Hearts, the focus for us right now is to fix the things we can take care of, how we behave as a team, the energy we play with, how we cooperate on the pitch. These things have to be one or two steps higher to get the results."

Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland

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The luck, or bad luck, of the fourth-round draw means not too many lower-league sides have home ties that immediately suggest a Scottish Cup shock could be on the cards, but Elgin City against Aberdeen on Saturday is one of them.

Last season's beaten semi-finalists travel to Elgin in crisis mode after 12 games without a win and with their stunning unbeaten start to the season under new manager Jimmy Thelin long forgotten amid a drop from second to fourth in the Premiership.

The sides have only met twice before, both in the cup, with Aberdeen easing to a 6-1 win in Elgin in 1938 and 5-0 at home in 1971 - both while City were still in the Highland League.

However, the Dons' worst-ever cup exit, to sixth-tier Darvel two years ago, is still fresh in the memory and the side sitting third in League 2 will have learned from their 5-0 League Cup thrashing in the opening game of the season against top-flight Hibs.

Allan Hale's side have only lost once at home in 12 games since.

Read Scottish Cup preview in full.

Queens Park Rangers are considering a move for 17-year-old Aberdeen centre-half Timothy Akindileni. (Press & Journal), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.