Image source, SNSDundee defender Jordan McGhee drops out with a calf injury but Scott Fraser, Charlie Reilly and Clark Robertson are back in contention. Joe Shaughnessy (knee) is a long-term absentee.
Aberdeen could have Duk in their match-day squad for the first time this season while Dante Polvara remains sidelined with a hamstring injury.
Seven games, only one start - with no goals - into his Aberdeen career, Pape Habib Gueye found himself so out in the cold he was shipped across the North Sea to the west coast of Norway.
As Bojan Miovski continued to rise above the Dons' managerial problems and poor form to win a summer move to La Liga with Girona, the 25-year-old Senegalese striker was plying his trade on loan to newly-promoted Kristiansund in a 4,400-capacity stadium.
The last of his four goals there came in a 3-1 win over Sarpsborg in June and, when he rounded off his 16-game stay in a 2-0 defeat away to Viking a month later, there were few signs that Gueye would be capable of filling the gaping hole left by the departed North Macedonia international.
However, six goals in eight games since, the striker who arrived last summer from Belgian club Kortrijk, has found a new lease of life under Jimmy Thelin and been central to Aberdeen's 11-game winning run under their new manager.
Indeed, he leads the Premiership scoring charts, his five goals being the most by a player in their first four league starts since Marc McNulty for Hibernian in February-March 2019.
Gueye will be relishing the opportunity to face a Dundee side on Saturday who have gone 10 league games, and seven overall, without a clean sheet and who have gone from nine games unbeaten to four without a victory.
However, the Dons have not won at Dens Park in their past three visits, their 1-0 defeat in March helping Dundee remain unbeaten in their three meetings last season following two draws at Pittodrie.
Winning this one would be the kind of result Gueye and Aberdeen, behind leaders Celtic only on goal difference, need to show they have what it takes to mount a surprise title challenge.
Image source, SNSAberdeen midfielder Leighton Clarkson is "excited" to face former Liverpool teammate Billy Koumetio when the Dons visit Dundee on Saturday.
The 22-year-old made his first start in nearly two months on Saturday as Jimmy Thelin's side advanced to the semi-finals of the Scottish League Cup with a 4-0 win at home to Spartans.
He is hoping to keep his place in the team this weekend and test himself against a familiar face in Koumetio, whom he spent five years with in Liverpool's academy.
"He's a lad that I know really well, I've played with him since I was about 16," said Clarkson.
"He's a good centre-half and I know all the qualities he can bring.
"When I heard he was coming up here, I spoke to him and I told him he's going to play football and learn the Scottish game.
"It's a good move for a lot of the English talent to come here. I'm excited to see him tomorrow."
Koumetio joined Dundee in the summer on a permanent two-year deal from Liverpool and took advice from a couple of his academy teammates before making the switch.
"This weekend, a player who I know [Clarkson] is playing for Aberdeen," said Koumetio.
"I have seen how he is performing in the league and how his game is going up and up and up.
"Before I came, I also spoke with Owen Beck, who did a good year, we all know that.
"I was on the phone with Owen before I came and everything he said I just saw it, I experienced it, so Owen was the one I took counsel from."
Image source, SNSJimmy Thelin has been speaking to the media in advance of Sunday's visit to Dens Park to face Dundee in the Scottish Premiership.
Here are the key lines from his press conference:
First team coach Peter Leven has been granted permission to speak to St Johnstone about their vacant managerial position.
Thelin wants him to stay at Aberdeen, but is happy that he is getting recognition for his good work from other clubs.
The decision is now up to Leven.
Thelin recognises that Dundee have a good coach in Tony Docherty. He expects a tough challenge and insists Aberdeen must be very competitive for 90 minutes.
The Swede believes that Docherty's side are "unified" and have quality and a clear identity. They are also quite direct and strong in second balls.
He added that competition for places is very high with players pushing each other in training every day. The league season doesn't finish until May so he wants all members of the squad to contribute.
Image source, SNSJimmy Thelin has won all his games as Aberdeen manager so far
Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin's "distinct style of play" is what fans have been craving, says The Athletic's Jordan Campbell.
The Swede has won all of his first 11 matches in charge at Pittodrie and his side are level on points with Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
"Some of the fallacies sometimes about Scottish football fans is that there's such a lack of patience, that they won't buy into a long-term plan," Campbell told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.
"If we can see the idea and we can get behind it, then the fans will come with them.
"I think with Aberdeen, you've seen that already. They look like a really well coached team.
"I always think that results can go against you, but as long as you've got the performances and some consistency there, then the fans will get behind you.
"You're seeing Aberdeen with this high energy pressing and it's really causing teams a lot of problems.
"Aberdeen don't need to be able to beat Rangers and Celtic, they just need to be able to beat the best of the rest.
"That's what they're doing just now."
Dundee avoided defeat in all three of their league meetings with Aberdeen last season (W1 D2), picking up five points – as many as they had in their previous 17 such games against the Dons beforehand (W1 D2 L14).
Aberdeen have lost two of their last three league visits to Dundee (D1), this after winning six such trips in a row beforehand.
Dundee haven’t kept a clean sheet in any of their last 10 Scottish Premiership matches (23 goals conceded in this run), the longest ongoing streak of any side in the division.
Aberdeen have won all five of their league games this season and could become the first non-Old Firm club to win their opening six matches of a Scottish Premiership campaign since Aberdeen themselves in 2015-16 (first eight).
Aberdeen’s Pape Habib Gueye is the top scorer in the Scottish Premiership this season with five goals – the most by a player in their first four starts in the competition since Marc McNulty in February-March 2019 (also five).
Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin believes every player in his squad will be called upon this season. (Press and Journal - subscription), external
Liam McLeod
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator
When Aberdeen defeated Clyde in the Scottish Cup on the 19 January, it was their 11th victory of the season. This term, that feat has been achieved before September’s out.
That in itself is a stunning return and the fact they’ve all been strung together is all the more remarkable.
It is a feat that has only been achieved once before in Dons history, when Eddie Turnbull led the club to 15 on the bounce 54 years ago. It was something that eluded even Sir Alex Ferguson’s all-conquering side.
The last time they opened a league season with five successive wins was in 2015 -when they were victorious in their first eight - in what looked like a title challenge in the making, only for an inexplicable collapse during the autumn denting Derek McInnes’ hopes of toppling Ronny Deila’s unconvincing Celtic side.
Are things about to get trickier? Having watched a lot of Aberdeen this season, despite a relatively kind fixture list to kick the campaign off, they look like a side that knows exactly what it’s doing with a trip to face Dundee up next in front of an away support that will be in excess of 4,000.
If Jimmy Thelin emerges from Dens Park victorious yet again, he will equal the Scottish record of 12 successive victories set by Martin O'Neill in 2000 when he went on to win a treble in his maiden season at Celtic Park.
After that, and ahead of the October international break, will be a visit from managerless Hearts who haven’t won at Pittodrie since 2016.
It was interesting to read that striker Kevin Nisbet feels the team hasn’t yet got to top gear. Certainly by the end of next month, the Dons will be hoping to have quietened down some sceptics in the media who have suggested they have yet to be truly tested.
Meanwhile, the League Cup win over Spartans on Saturday means they will return to Hampden to face tournament favourites Celtic in the semis, a team they haven’t beaten at the national stadium since 1992 when Eoin Jess took them through to the final of the same competition they will clash in.
There will be a sense of revenge in the air for some of the Aberdeen squad after last season’s Scottish Cup last-four thriller, which saw Brendan Rodgers’ side eventually prevail on penalties - an outcome that made it nine Hampden meetings without success over Celtic for Aberdeen.
Thelin will look at the next five league games ahead of that semi-final and feel he will know exactly what his side are made of by the end of them, with a trip to Celtic Park and Pittodrie battles with rivals Dundee United and Rangers before October’s over.
Image source, SNS"I hope he does well, but not too well. I don't like seeing Aberdeen too high up the table."
Former Rangers defender Joachim Bjorklund is "proud" of his compatriot, Jimmy Thelin, for the start he's made to his Aberdeen career and hopes he can set a template for future Swedish managers.
Thelin has 11 wins from 11 games, and is eyeing up Martin O'Neill's Scottish record of 12 successive victories in 2000.
Bjorklund, who is assistant manager at IFK Goteborg, told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast Thelin has "developed a lot" as a manager.
"He did a really really good job at Elfsborg where he was for six or seasons before he left for Aberdeen," Bjorklund said. "Especially the last couple of years, they were one game away from winning the league. They met Malmo in the last game of last season and probably should have won it but squandered it away probably more the second last game so he nearly won the league here.
"Then he moves to Aberdeen in the summer and as you said, he's had great success and it's good for Swedish coaches because there's not too many out there, so if he's doing well, it might help all the other ones who wants to try a bit of international football as well.
"We are proud of him, and hope he's doing well, just not too well, because I don't like to see Aberdeen too high up the table, just for the sake of old rivalries!
"He's a good man. He did really, really well in Elfsborg, and I think he'll continue to have success in Aberdeen."
Listen and subscribe to the Scottish Football Podcast on BBC Sounds here
Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin has confirmed he wants to secure right-back Nicky Devlin on a new contract, with the 30-year-old's current deal expiring at the end of the season. (Press & Journal), external
Read Wednesday's Scottish Gossip in full here.
Gary Scott
Fan writer
Another week, another win for Jimmy Thelin as he guided his Aberdeen side to an 11th straight win and a League Cup semi-final with a thoroughly professional 4-0 win over The Spartans on Saturday.
While the Dons were heavy favourites to progress to Hampden in their first ever meeting with the Ainslie Park side, the manner of the victory was hugely pleasing for the Pittodrie faithful.
A continued drive and willingness from the men in red to keep attacking their League 2 opponents when the game was already over as a contest was marked in its change of style compared to recent seasons.
Couple this with a determination to work hard to recover possession even when 4-0 up was also significant in terms of demonstrating the complete mindset shift that Thelin has been enable to implement within his squad.
A key figure in Saturday's win was Croatian midfielder Ante Palaversa. Making only his second start for the club since his summer arrival, Palaversa's performance was exemplary and it showed why Manchester City paid north of 7m euros for the player back in 2019.
Coupled with the return of Leighton Clarkson from injury, Thelin now has quite a dilemma on his hands when it comes to the midfield, with Graeme Shinnie, Sivert Heltne Nilsen, Palaversa and Clarkson all vying for three central spots, and that’s before the return of Dante Polvara is factored in.
This winning run is the second best in club history, only bettered by 15 straight wins during the 1970-71 season.
Aberdeen last tasted defeat at Dens Park back in March and it's a trip to Dundee that awaits on Saturday in what is, arguably, the stiffest test Thelin's side have faced this season to date.
Indeed, the month of October may act as a bellwether for how Aberdeen's season will ultimately end up.
Saturday's trip to Dens and a first visit of the season to Celtic Park sandwich a home game with floundering Hearts, before Dundee United and Rangers visit Pittodrie prior to the aforementioned trip to Hampden to take on Celtic.
If Aberdeen can stick another 10-12 points on the board in that run then the quiet optimism that is bubbling away may explode exponentially.
Boss Jimmy Thelin has labelled striker Ester Sokler one of Aberdeen's "best attacking defenders" because of his tireless pressing. (Daily Record)
Thelin has urged defender Jack Mackenzie to keep taking "big steps" in his career as talks continue on a new Aberdeen contract. (Press & Journal)
Read the rest of Tuesday's gossip.
Image source, SNSThe dates and kick-off times for the two Scottish League Cup semi-finals have been confirmed.
Celtic take on Aberdeen on Saturday, 2 November (17:30), while Rangers face Motherwell on Sunday, 3 November (15:00), with both matches taking place at Hampden.
Image source, SNSCeltic will face Aberdeen in the Scottish League Cup semi-finals.
Holders Rangers take on Motherwell in the other tie.
The games will take place on the weekend of 2-3 November.
We asked for your views on Aberdeen's 4-0 win against The Spartans that sent the Dons into the League Cup semis.
Here's what some of you said:
Stuart: Aberdeen approached the game giving The Spartans every respect they deserved, however, it was a job well done now on to Hampden, when I'm expecting the draw to pair us with Celtic.
Neil: A solid and intense team performance which is brilliant to see. For me the engine in the first half came through Sivert Heltne Nilsen and Pape Gueye's hunger in particular but it's so pleasing to see the team working incredibly hard together to break down The Spartans, despite them being stubborn at first.
Karen: A wonderfully effervescent performance from the Dons. Yes, it was lower-league opposition, but every player looked hungry and confident. Right from the first minute, The Spartans never stood a chance and on any occasion when we lost the ball, we won it back again so quickly by swarming all over the opposition.
Andy: It isn't just an 11-match winning run, it's a 21-match unbeaten run in regulation time.
Richie: Quality possession throughout from Aberdeen, constantly probing in the opposition half to create scoring opportunities. Could have been more than four. Defensively tight, managed every situation well. The Spartans struggled to keep possession as Aberdeen put in the effort to quickly close down, force errors, make tackles and re-gain possession. Good job.
Fred: Really good game and great to see four players finding the net. Aberdeen played fast and furious dominating the tie. We must have a great chance of making the final. The team spirit is fantastic but must praise The Spartans who never gave up.
Image source, SNSAberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin: "Spartans did well, they defended really well. We tried to find ways to find a goal, it's so important in these kind of games. I think how we mixed our attacks - sometimes behind and sometimes between - and finally we get that goal, and another one before half-time.
"The third goal was important. You never know in these games if they get an opportunity in transition or from a corner. I'm really happy with that.
"The last 10 minutes, we had a 4-0 lead, and still everyone is sprinting and helping each other to defend, to keep pushing instead of just playing off the game. We need to keep that hunger on the pitch.
"[The semi-final] is going to be nice. We'll see the draw tomorrow, but for now we focus on the league."
Aberdeen's perfect start to the season continued as Jimmy Thelin's side swept away League 2 Spartans to book a place at Hampden in the Scottish League Cup semi-finals.
On a run of 10 straight wins, Aberdeen were heavy favourites and played to form as their intensity from the first whistle proved too much for their part-time opponents.
Pape Habib Gueye pounced on a loose ball in the box to turn in his sixth goal of the season and get Aberdeen going on 14 minutes.
A host of chances followed before Kevin Nisbet tapped in Jack MacKenzie's excellent cross just before half-time.
The tie was effectively over 45 seconds after the restart when Slobodan Rubezic picked out Leighton Clarkson, who nodded in Aberdeen's third goal, before Ester Sokler squeezed in a fourth.
Were you at Pittodrieor following the match from home? Either way, we want your views on the game – have your say here, external.
Image source, SNSThomas Duncan, BBC Sport Scotland
A comfortable home victory against a League 2 side is not the most impressive of Jimmy Thelin's 11 wins in a row.
However, there is enough evidence from recent struggles against lower-league opponents to illustrate Aberdeen's immense improvement under the Swede.
Non-league Darvel defeated Jim Goodwin's Aberdeen in January 2023 and last season Neil Warnock's Dons struggled past League 2 Bonnyrigg Rose.
But here there was not a moment when the result was in question such was Aberdeen's slickness with the ball and intensity without it.
That is exactly what Thelin has brought to Pittodrie, as well as vast improvement in individual players like Pape Habib Gueye, who has been transformed after a poor first season at the club.
Of course there are much tougher tests to come, but Aberdeen have the look of a team who mean business this season.
Beaten finalists in this competition last term, they will be a dangerous side to face in the last four.
Image source, SNSJack Mackenzie continued his excellent start to the season by surging up and down the left-hand side, laying on two goals in the process.
Jimmy Thelin makes just one change following Aberdeen's 2-1 Premiership victory over Motherwell last weekend.
Leighton Clarkson makes his first start since returning from a shoulder injury sustained in the League Cup group stage versus Dumbarton
Finland winger Topi Keskinen drops to the bench, while Graeme Shinnie returns from illness to take up a spot in the dugout.
Image source, SNSClub captain Graeme Shinnie returns from illness to make the match day squad
Aberdeen: Mitov, Devlin, Rubezic, Molloy, MacKenzie, Palaversa, Ketlne Nilsen, Clarkson, Gueye, McGrath, Nisbet.
Substitutes: Doohan, Shinnie, McGarry, Besuijen, Sokler, Morris, Milne, MacDonald, Keskinen.
Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Image source, SNSPalaversa made his first Aberdeen start in last weekend's win over Motherwell
Ante Palaversa believes he can "do really good stuff" with Aberdeen as he aims to rebuild a career that took him to Manchester City as a youth.
The 24-year-old arrived from French side Troyes on a 12 month deal, with the Dons having the option to extend the agreement by a further two years.
The Croatian midfielder has made just one start in Aberdeen's unbeaten opening and craves more minutes on the pitch to show what he can do.
"I appreciate Aberdeen, they offered one year to prove myself because I think I can do really good stuff," he said.
"In these last two years I was not getting too much time to play so right now I am just focused on myself. I don’t think of anything else, so just training and games."
Aberdeen aim to take their winning run to 11 games at home to Spartans in the Premier Sports Cup and Palaversa has been impressed.
"It is amazing the team spirit," he said. "If you don’t have team spirit I think we don’t win every game, so we just keep pushing that.
"We have to stay on the ground at first and don’t be like ‘oh we are something’ just keep doing our thing and keep the team spirit in the dressing room."
Five years ago, Palaversa joined Manchester City for a fee of around £7m.
Despite failing to make a first-team breakthrough at City, he harbours ambitions of making it to the highest level.
"That time I was 18, 19, to me it was 'a big club is coming for me' when I was signing in my head was always 'I want to go to that place' and maybe in four years, five years, ten years I want to play there, so I still keep that dream in my head.
"In Belgium, Spain, France, I took a lot of experience so right now in my position, I think I am in a good place to be."
Ante Palaversa, who joined Aberdeen from Troyes, has targeted a return to Manchester City despite the 24-year-old playmaker having failed to break through with the Premier League side previously. (Daily Record), external
Read the rest of Saturday's Scottish gossip.
