Aberdeen

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Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin has praised Kevin Nisbet's "character and mentality" after the striker's improved form was rewarded with a recall to the Scotland squad.

On-loan Millwall forward Nisbet, who won the last of his 11 caps in June 2023, has been summoned by Steve Clarke for the Nations League play-off double-header with Greece after five goals in his past six Dons matches.

"I think it shows that we are a good environment to work in as a player, the players are making progress in their careers," said Thelin.

"But for me it's always about the character and mentality of the player. We can support them, we can try to guide them, but they have to put the effort in and do the work and push themselves.

"I'm glad when they get their reward for the hard work they're putting in. We're happy for Kevin, that's good."

Thelin has warned the Dons must be "sharp and ready" for their trip to McDiarmid Park on Saturday to face rejuvenated bottom club St Johnstone.

Simo Valakari's Saints have won six of their past nine matches in all competitions and Thelin said: "We've played them before and it's been tight games, so we're expecting that, but we're doing things better and better as a team.

"We're hopeful for the game and believe in our journey, but Simo Valakari is a good coach and has done a good job there, and there's been change in some parts.

"They play at home, so we have to be sharp and ready for what they want to do, but also believe in our own capacity.

"The way we want to attack and defend is looking better and better because we have had some changes during the season with players in and out, some injuries and the two windows. The squad is more connected and we look more stable."

How Aberdeen's 'The Changing Room' project is helping supporters to combat male mental health challenges.

This segment is taken from the Friday, 14 March episode of A View From the Terrace. Watch on BBC Scotland at 22:30 GMT or iPlayer.

Robbie Boyle
BBC Scotland

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Jimmy Thelin has been speaking to the media before Aberdeen face St Johnstone in the Premiership this weekend.

Here are the key points from the Dons boss:

• On his 47th birthday Thelin says three points at McDiarmid Park would be "the best present you can get" but is expecting a "tight game".

• The Swede says his side have been doing things "better and better" in recent weeks but notes St Johnstone have also improved and have clear ideas.

• The game will come "too early" for Kristers Tobers and he'll be assessed after the international break but Ester Sokler will be back in the squad on Saturday.

• On Kevin Nisbet's recall to the Scotland squad, Thelin says it shows the club is a good environment for players.

• "Let's see" was Thelin's response when asked if Graeme Shinnie will continue to fill in at left-back. He added it is a "good dynamic" to have players who can be deployed in different positions.

• With a battle for third place ongoing and the upcoming Scottish Cup semi-final on the horizon Thelin insists all the focus is on Saturday's game.

• He described the cup semi-final draw against Hearts as a "good challenge".

International manager Ehab Abu Jazar is happy with the form shown by "icon" Oday Dabbagh at Aberdeen, saying the striker is helping to raise the profile of Palestine. (Daily Record), external

Read the rest of Friday's Scottish gossip.

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• St Johnstone have only won once in their last nine league meetings with Aberdeen (D3 L5), a 2-0 away win in February 2024.

• St Johnstone have won two of their last three home league games (L1), as many as their previous 20 beforehand (W2 D5 L13), while the Saints are looking to earn successive home wins in the Premiership for the first time since December 2023.

• Aberdeen have suffered just one defeat in their last 15 league visits to McDiarmid Park (W9 D5), a 0-1 loss in May 2022 under Jim Goodwin.

• Aberdeen have lost six of their last seven away league outings (W1), failing to score in five of those matches.

• Kevin Nisbet has been directly involved in five goals in his last four league matches for Aberdeen (three goals, two assists). However, Nisbet has just one goal in seven previous Premiership appearances against St Johnstone, only netting fewer against Hibernian among all sides he has faced in the division (no goals in three games).

Liam McLeod
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator

Aberdeen sealed a return to Hampden with Saturday's comfortable Scottish Cup victory over Queen's Park ensuring Jimmy Thelin has a chance to exorcise the ghosts of their last visit to the national stadium.

Hearts will be their opponents in what promises to be a fascinating tie.

Incredibly, it will be just the third occasion Hampden has hosted the fixture despite it having featured 32 times in the two domestic cup competitions in Scotland.

More on that nearer the time.

The Dons will now refocus on their efforts to clamber back above Hibernian, who have now taken third spot in the Premiership.

Aberdeen seemed certainties to finish there a few months ago and despite looking better over the last batch of games, Hibs' league form ate into their advantage and they eventually usurped Thelin's side.

A trip south to face St Johnstone is up next and back to where this Premiership season all began for the manager.

It will also be a very different starting XI the Swede picks for the game from the one that opened the league season.

Dimitar Mitov, Graeme Shinnie, Shayden Morris and Sivert Nilsen, if he recovers from injury, are all likely starters but the rest of the side will feature many who weren't at the club on that warm August evening in the Fair City. Even the much-missed Bojan Miovski began that one.

Every game Aberdeen play between now and the end of the season will be crucial though their ambitions have improved with the recent exploits of Kevin Nisbet, who has sealed a return to the Scotland squad.

There may not be much wriggle room once the league breaks in two, with possible post-split away matches to come at Ibrox, Tynecastle and Tannadice depending on whether Hearts and Dundee United can seal top-half finishes.

The fact there is a possible cup final to come at the end of all that will surely prove more than enough incentive for the Dons players to finish the season strongly with the home straight almost in sight.

We asked whether Aberdeen should try to secure loan striker Kevin Nisbet - who has earned a Scotland recall - on a permanent deal this summer.

Here's what some of you said:

Kieran: I think this will fill Nisbet with even more confidence for the rest of the season, he is fitting in quite well now so if we can afford him then get him signed.

Malky: He's been very much off the pace for a large part of the season, but the fact that he's worked hard away from the pitch and is now scoring as well, looking fitter and sharper too, is a testament to him. Earned his call-up and the right to be our starting striker. Would I give him a permanent deal? Depends on how he carries on this season.

Neil: Nisbet has really come on to a game now. A well deserved international call-up, all credit to him. Personally if Nisbet wants to stay and transfer fee, wages etc fit Jimmy Thelin's squad profile, then I would be happy for him to sign.

Simon: Getting Nisbet on a permanent deal would benefit both parties. Anyone who is involved in the Scotland set-up should always be worth looking at if we can agree a package.

Scott: Nisbet has hit a purple patch right enough. However, why has it taken most of the season to get to this point? If he can keep it up for the rest of the season and if the deal works for both sides, then yes he could be an asset to Aberdeen. I don't know if he is exactly the type of striker Thelin would ideally want though - fast enough?

Fred: I would worry about Nisbet's application and consistency. He is great when things are going well but a lot of the season he has looked unfit and uninterested. I would try to identify a good Japanese striker as Celtic have had great success in that market.

Craig: Proven record in this league and he seems to be fitting in with Thelin's style of play. Also important to have a nucleus of Scottish players in the team as it helps with the relationship with fans.

Captain Graeme Shinnie impressed at left-back in the Scottish Cup quarter-final but he still has much to offer in midfield, says Aberdeen legend Willie Miller. (Press & Journal)

Read the rest of Wednesday's gossip.

Glen Schreuder
Fan writer

Aberdeen once again showed us how to see off the Spiders at Pittodrie in a cup competition.

At least this time we didn't need to wait for a 90th-minute winner.

A professional and polished first 45 minutes from the Dons ended the tie as a contest.

A stunning opener from Kevin Nisbet - who is now back in the Scotland squad - showed just how much confidence the striker has on the back of his recent scoring exploits.

A question we wondered in January was where the goals were going to come from? In Nisbet, and January acquisition Oday Dabbagh, we look to have found the answers. Strikers with that instinct to finish the chances created.

Shayden Morris is the man creating those chances, though. With 11 assists, he's a player revitalised under Jimmy Thelin, and certainly put in a performance meriting a start against St Johnstone this weekend.

Similarly strong showings from Graeme Shinnie at left-back and Leighton Clarkson - who alongside Ante Palaversa controlled the game - will leave Thelin with a positive selection headache.

We're 90 minutes away from another Scottish Cup final, and Hearts await.

However, attention returns to the fight for third for now. If you told us Thelin would have us in two semi-finals and tussling for third in his first season, many would have bitten your hand off.

Maybe it makes that barren run more frustrating, but it has certainly been another rollercoaster season for Aberdeen.

The ride isn't over, either. There's a few more twists and turns to endure first!

Glen Schreuder can be found at Red Tinted Glasses, external

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Aberdeen striker Kevin Nisbet has earned a recall to the Scotland squad for this month's Nations League play-off double-header against Greece.

The striker was most recently in the squad in October but won the last of his 11 caps in June 2023.

Nisbet, who is on loan at the Dons from Millwall, has netted five goals in his past six games, taking his season's tally to 10 in 28 for Jimmy Thelin's side.

Should Thelin be looking to secure Nisbet on a permanent deal this summer? Or would the money be better spent elsewhere?

Let us know your thoughts., external

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin has not ruled out making a permanent move for on-loan Millwall forward Kevin Nisbet, 28. (Press and Journal - subscription), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish gossip

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Hearts and Aberdeen will meet in the Scottish Cup semi-finals next month.

The tie will be played at Hampden on the weekend of 19-20 April.

Holders Celtic face St Johnstone in the other semi-final.

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Former Scotland midfielder Kevin Thomson has "no doubt" Jimmy Thelin will be a success at Aberdeen.

The Dons overcame Championship outfit Queen's Park on Saturday to book a place in the Scottish Cup semi-final and are well-placed to secure a top six finish this term thanks to an incredible run at the start of the campaign.

They've had to endure some tough results of late but got back to winning ways at Pittodrie at the weekend.

"It's almost incredible to think how well they started the season to how far they fell," Thomson told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"I've got no doubt that Jimmy Thelin is a good manager. He's got a certain style.

"I've got no doubt that he'll be a success at Pittodrie but they're also a huge club which comes with big expectations. So when you do go through these sticky patches, I think it's a demand for the faithful up there that they do get to the latter stages of competitions.

"They are fighting to try and win that third or fourth place and you could argue they might just get there this year."

Shayden Morris says Aberdeen are determined to atone for their 6-0 League Cup semi-final defeat by Celtic in November when they return to Hampden for the Scottish Cup last four. (Daily Record), external

Aberdeen fans, we asked for your views on Saturday's comfortable Scottish Cup quarter-final victory over Queen's Park.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Karl: I believe playing alongside a clever front partner in Oday Dabbagh has really benefited Kevin Nisbet. He's able to find space more easily and his confidence is flowing. I would be delighted if we could do a deal with Milwall to keep him.

Gary: Apart from a dodgy five-minute spell, we absolutely dominated the game. If we have any sense we sign Nisbet now. Delighted for Graeme Shinnie also, he deserves all the adulation. There has been a lot of criticism of the management team, but Jimmy Thelin is getting the team and style he wants.

David: Assured solid performance, no banana skin moments at all, roll on the semi-final.

Paul: Feeling more positive suddenly for the rest of the season. Every game a cup final from now on, see where it takes us. A great team performance today. Leighton Clarkson and Ante Palaversa ran the game and loving Shinnie back at left-back with his infectious enthusiasm. Onwards and upwards.

Dick: An assured performance from Aberdeen, they have found a structure in the team where they can control matches with Clarkson bossing the show. Nisbet is now on fire and Shayden Morris is too hot to handle. The next target is to be sure of reaching the top six.

Ben: It's only Queen's Park, but there was so much to like about that performance. For once our attack looked threatening, and it looked like the scoreline could have been five or six to us. At times you could really feel that we were going to score, especially after Nisbet's opener, who played amazing by the way. Let's take this performance into the league.

Hibernian winger Junior Hoilett has revealed he encouraged his former Aberdeen teammate Jamie McGrath to follow him to Easter Road, with McGrath joining on a pre-contract agreement this summer. (Daily Record), external

Aberdeen sealed their passage to the Scottish Cup semi-finals in comfortable fashion as they put Queen's Park adventures in the competition to an end.

Goals from Kevin Nisbet, Oday Dabbagh and Graeme Shinnie did the business for Jimmy Thelin's side before Zak Rudden got one back for the visitors.

What did you make of that, Aberdeen fans? Who impressed you?

And how confident do you feel about your chances of lifting the Scottish Cup?

Let us know your thoughts, external.

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Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin told BBC Scotland: "I'm really happy. It's not always easy to find the right rhythm. In the first five minutes they got some good crosses in, got some opportunities.

"Then we found our rhythm and started playing better as a team. It was a good performance.

[On Kevin Nisbet] "He works hard on the training ground, pushes himself before and after training. It's always nice to see when people get repaid for the effort they put in.

"That's another thing we always try and work on - we are trying to be more intense in training and everybody has to cope with that and raise the standard of the team."

[On Graeme Shinnie] "He did really well. 600 games is a lot - I'm so proud of how he still has that hunger. He gives energy to the team, in training sessions, off the pitch, on the pitch. I'm so happy to have a player with that mentality."

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

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Queen's Park showed at Ibrox what they were made of. Determined not to be broken down, they should have proved a really tough test for Aberdeen.

However, the professional and clinical nature of the Dons' performance ground their visitors down early, as Jimmy Thelin's side put in one of their best performances in months to seal another trip to Hampden.

Ante Palaversa showed his class in the midfield, while Shayden Morris laid down a real claim to become a starter with a fine showing on the wing.

Kevin Nisbet and Oday Dabbagh seem to be striking up a fine partnership up top, and both have hit form at the right time of the season.

It was on the wings where they found their real strength. Topi Keskinen and Morris were a nightmare all day, ably backed up by Graeme Shinnie and Alexander Jensen supporting from deep.

It was a performance where everything clicked. If Aberdeen can repeat that type of showing in the league, they will feel confident about regaining third place from Hibs.