Aberdeen

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Hibs are closing in on the signing of Junior Hoilett, with the Canadian winger undergoing a medical with the Easter Road club.

The 34-year-old signed for Premiership side Aberdeen in February, but left Pittodrie at the end of last season having scored two goals and contributed nine assists in 15 appearances.

Hoilett would become Hibs' sixth signing of the summer, following Marvin Ekpiteta, Warren O’Hora, Jordan Smith, Mykola Kuharevich and Josef Bursik.

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Aberdeen have held initial talks with left-back Jack MacKenzie, 24, over a new deal, with his current contract expiring in May. (Record), external

Having to wait until Monday evening to open the Scottish Premiership season away to St Johnstone has been a frustration for Aberdeen captain Graeme Shinnie. (Press and Journal - subscription), external

Leighton Clarkson's eight-week-long injury absence may force manager Jimmy Thelin to enter the transfer market, says Aberdeen forward Duncan Shearer. (Press and Journal - subscription), external

Read Monday's Scottish gossip

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St Johnstone will be without Nicky Clark (calf) and Andre Raymond (hamstring) while Uche Ikpeazu (knee) faces longer out. Aaron Essel is free from suspension.

Aberdeen are without midfielders Leighton Clarkson (shoulder) and Dante Polvara (hamstring), while striker Duk is unavailable after failing to report back for pre-season training on time.

Bojan Miovski will be in the squad despite intense speculation about his future.

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While Celtic were unanimously predicted to become league champions by our reporters, the question of who would finish third split opinion. Some said Hearts would repeat the trick, but two plumped for Aberdeen...

Tyrone Smith, our man in the north-east:

I initially had Hearts down for this but, despite their big squad, the impact their European commitments could have on their domestic ones made me change my mind and go for Aberdeen instead as being the team who will finish as the best of the rest behind Celtic and Rangers.

After hugely under achieving last term, they will be determined to avoid any such repeat this time round, and under new manager Jimmy Thelin, there is a real optimism among everyone connected with the club that the good times could be heading back and that they could, and should, find themselves challenging in the upper echelons of the table once again.

Kheredine Idessane, asking all the big questions pitch-side:

I was swithering over this one, with Hearts my natural pick for third. The big caveat to that is Lawrence Shankland.

It seems unlikely he’ll still be at Tynecastle for much longer and when you take away Scotland’s player of the year, and add in an expected improvement from the Dons under new boss Jimmy Thelin, that’s why I’ll plump for Aberdeen to be the best of the rest.

Before all you Killie fans start screaming at me, I’m actually expecting third spot to be a close three-way fight between Kilmarnock, Hearts and Aberdeen.

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Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin admitted he "feels sorry" for injured midfielder Leighton Clarkson.

The Dons' playmaker is set to miss the first two months of the new season after suffering a should fracture during the Premier Sports Cup group stage win over Dumbarton.

The Dons open their new campaign at St Johnstone on Monday night.

"I feel sorry for Leighton," Thelin said. "He’s a good guy and he started the season really well and has been important for us.

"But that’s football, we need to find solutions for him and for Dante [Polvara] who is also not available. That’s our job now. Sometimes it gives opportunities to other players."

American midfielder Polvara became a key figure for the Dons last season but has been ruled out for a couple of months after injuring his hamstring.

That means Graeme Shinnie and new signing Sivert Heltne Nilsen are the only recognised central midfielders in the club's senior squad.

"Of course we feel like both Dante and Leighton are really good guys and players, and it’s not nice when they get setbacks like this.

"But they have our support and hopefully they get back stronger and can still give energy to the locker room."

The Aberdeen manager also spoke about Bojan Miovski, his star striker who has been left out of starting matchday squads during the League Cup as he is linked with a move away.

“For me, he is still an Aberdeen player, and that’s what we focus on,” Thelin said. “We have a game on Monday, he is training fully and he is giving everything in the training so for sure he will be in the squad, and maybe he starts.”

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Jimmy Thelin addressed the media ahead of Aberdeen's opening Scottish Premiership game of the 2024/25 season against St Johnstone on Monday.

Here are the key lines from the manager:

• Jimmy Thelin says Aberdeen are looking forward to the new season and says his players are ready for a “good fight” and game against St Johnstone.

• On Leighton Clarkson injury news, he says he feels sorry for him because he’s started the season “really well”. Thelin says there are solutions in place, adding it may give opportunities to other players.

• On bringing in new players during the ongoing transfer window, Thelin says “a lot of work is going on”, but the club need to make the “right decision”. He says the club are looking for “long-term solutions”.

• Amid ongoing transfer speculation around striker, Bojan Miovski, Thelin says he is still an Aberdeen player and he will be in the squad on Monday and will maybe start.

• The new manager has now been in the role since mid-June and Thelin says things can’t be better and that’s he’s really happy.

• Asked what success would look like this season, Thelin says Aberdeen as a starting-point need to be in the “upper-half” of the table to try and achieve European football next season.

• Thelin confirms that Angus McDonald has returned to training following surgery, but is still suspended for the St Johnstone match.

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Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin has confirmed that midfielder Leighton Clarkson will be sidelined for up to eight weeks.

The 22-year-old was substituted following a collision during last weekend's Premier Sports Cup fixture against Dumbarton.

The club have confirmed on X, formerly Twitter, that a "fracture was found in his shoulder" and will rule him out for the start of the 2024/25 season.

Clarkson scored two goals during the Don's League Cup group campaign and looked set to play another important role for them this season, having featured in almost all of Aberdeen's league games last season.

The former Liverpool playmaker has made 91 appearances for Aberdeen so far, with 28 goal contributions in that time.

He could now be out until the end of September, missing Aberdeen's first six league games and the League Cup game against Queen's Park.

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Next weekend's Scottish Premiership match at Pittodrie, involving Aberdeen and St Mirren, has been moved to a 15:00 (BST) kick-off on Sunday, 11 August.

The match was originally scheduled 24 hours before, but due to St Mirren's Europa Conference League third-qualifying round tie against Brann on Thursday, it has been pushed back a day.

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• St. Johnstone last faced Aberdeen on matchday one of a league season in 2016-17, drawing 0-0.

• Aberdeen have only lost one of their last 14 league trips to St. Johnstone (W8 D5), going down 1-0 in May 2022.

• St. Johnstone are winless on matchday one in each of the previous six league seasons (D2 L4) since a 2-1 win over Kilmarnock in 2017-18.

• When opening their league season away from home, Aberdeen have only won one of their last nine such games (D4 L4), beating Dundee United 1-0 in 2015-16.

• Since the Scottish Premiership began in 2013, this will be just the second matchday-one fixture played on a Monday, after Ross County’s 1-0 win over Motherwell in 2020-21.

Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland

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BBC Sport Scotland have been taking a look at the faces to keep an eye on in the new Scottish Premiership season.

Here's who to watch out for at Pittodrie.

Among Jimmy Thelin's first acts as new Aberdeen manager was to recruit Sivert Heltne Nilsen, with whom he worked at Elfsborg, from last year's Norwegian championship runners-up Brann while talking up the defensive midfielder's leadership qualities.

Nilsen's last act for Brann was to be sent off after 10 minutes of a 5-1 thrashing by leaders Bodo/Glimt and early observations from Dons observers was that he is not the most mobile of operators.

However, his mere presence has given fellow 32-year-old Graeme Shinnie the freedom to transform himself into a goalscoring and goal-creating midfield dynamo.

Read Clive's full piece here.

Liam McLeod
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator

It has been one of the dullest, predictably flat fixtures that Scottish football has produced in recent times, but Aberdeen’s visit to St Johnstone has the added razzmatazz of being a curtain-raiser this time around when the sides clash in Perth.

Only once in the last 21 meetings has this head-to-head produced more than two goals so it may be wise to not expect a goal-fest in the Fair City.

So far, new manager Jimmy Thelin has made limited changes to a squad which underperformed for the vast majority of last season. Just three new outfield players have arrived with others returning from half-decent loan spells elsewhere to beef up the group along with the addition of Dimitar Mitov, the Bulgarian goal-keeper who makes a quick-fire return to McDiarmid Park where he impressed for Saints last season.

Bojan Miovski remains for now, but it appears increasingly unlikely he will be an Aberdeen player by the time the transfer window closes at the end of August. Those will be huge boots to fill. Will Thelin have to replace him from elsewhere or can the likes of Ester Sokler and new signing Peter Ambrose step up to the plate? The jury is out.

Miovski has been magnificent for the club and has earned a move to a big club in Spain or Italy should it come to pass and Aberdeen are right to hold out for the maximum amount for the North Macedonian.

Oh Hyeon-gyu left Celtic for Genk for a reported £4.5m after a difficult time with the champions, so it would be amazing if the Pittodrie board accepted less than that for someone who produced goals and top-level performances in an inferior team. He out-scored the likes of Kyogo and and Rangers' Cyriel Dessers as well.

The difficulty for Thelin and for Aberdeen is two-fold. While Miovski's exemplary behaviour amid huge interest in his services is quite the opposite to his AWOL team-mate Duk, the manager will want certainty and he won’t want to be scrambling for that calibre of replacement at the tail-end of the window.

There is also the fact that Miovski has two years left on his contract, so for that reason, this may be the optimum time to sell for maximum profit, as painful as it will be for Aberdeen fans.

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Graeme Shinnie says Aberdeen still have "a long way to go" under manager Jimmy Thelin, but the captain feels early signs are "encouraging".

The Swede took over this summer and has since led the Dons to the League Cup last 16 after winning all four games in the group stage.

Thelin's side, who scored 15 goals across those four victories, are now preparing for the start of the Premiership season.

Aberdeen bring the opening weekend to an end when they travel to St Johnstone on Monday night.

"It's been a great start to pre-season," Shinnie told Sky Sports, external.

"It's been very intense in learning because it's a short period of time and the manager wants to get his ideas across as quickly as he can.

"But it's hard, it will take a bit of time to get it bang on. So far it has been encouraging. There's still a long way to go but the early signs are very good.

"The manager and all the staff have settled in well and the players have taken to it."

Aberdeen have rejected a £3m offer from Spanish club Espanyol for striker Bojan Miovski, while Italian clubs Bologna and Genoa have also been speaking to the 25-year-old North Macedonia international's representatives. (Daily Mail), external

Hibs are considering offering Junior Hoilett a return to the Scottish Premiership after the 34-year-old Canada winger left Aberdeen. (Daily Record), external

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin decided to move on to other targets after winger Junior Hoilett stalled on the club's offer of a new contract. (Daily Record), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

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Aberdeen goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov has spoken of the great welcome he has received since arriving at Pittodrie this summer.

The Bulgarian shot-stopper kept two clean sheets in three League Cup appearances as Aberdeen step up preparations for the new league season.

"It's been amazing. It’s been so good since joining the club," Mitov told Sky Sports, external.

"I have enjoyed every minute so far. The welcoming I’ve had from the players, the fans and everybody at the football club has been amazing, so I’m really happy to be here.

"[The League Cup] is hugely important, especially for new players to build up relationships with the team - to know strengths and weaknesses. It’s been great for the team, building momentum towards the new season and winning four out of four is always good. It brings a lot of confidence going into the new season."

While tempering expectations on the immediate impact of new boss Jimmy Thelin's brand of football, Mitov has lavished praise on his new manager's insight and management style.

"I think it will be a slow process, it is not going to happen overnight," he added. "A new manager comes in with different ideas, people need to get used to his playing style. But it is very exciting times.

"His knowledge of football is honestly unbelievable. I’ve been so impressed by him and his daily management. Not just as a coach but also as a person. Everybody loves working with him."

Aberdeen open up their 2024-25 Scottish Premiership campaign with a trip to McDiarmid Park on Monday 5 August, facing off against Mitov's former side St Johnstone.

"I knew it was going to happen. It’s one of those things. I’ve got huge respect for [St Johnstone]. I had an amazing relationship with everyone involved. But ultimately I’m an Aberdeen player, so my goal is to go there and win the game."

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Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin insists Bojan Miovski is "giving everything" as rumours persist over the striker's future at the club.

Miovski, who found the net 26 times last season, played just 45 minutes of the club's League Cup group stage campaign, and has been linked with a move away from Pittodrie.

"Let’s see. When a window is open, it’s open. You never know exactly what is going to happen," Thelin told Sky Sports, external.

"We need to be prepared, be ready, but keep our focus on what we are doing today and grow as a team.

"In the training sessions and games, everyone has taken the challenge in a good way. I’m happy with what they are showing and how we are progressing. But you always have to have an eye open on the transfer market.

"He [Miovski] is still an Aberdeen player. And he behaves like an Aberdeen player. My feeling, when I see him training and behaving in the dressing room, is that everything is perfect.

"When he came on the pitch in the game [versus Airdrieonians], he showed to everybody he is still here in his mind and giving everything to the club. I’m happy with how he is performing."

Gary Scott
Fan writer

Seventy-eight. That's the number of days between Aberdeen's final game of last campaign and the season opener at McDiarmid Park on Monday night - and quite a bit has gone on during that time.

New gaffer Jimmy Thelin finally arrived in the middle of June. Most Aberdeen fans were watching on with intrigue during the League Cup groups to see signs of progress, fresh thinking and new ideas.

So what have we seen? Four wins from four with the side hitting plenty of goals (15) and conceding only one. Lots to be positive about, then? In the main, yes.

The biggest concern so far is the slow starts in the last three games against East Kilbride, Airdrie and Dumbarton - although in each game the Dons could easily have been three goals up at the break, so perhaps we are somewhat nit-picking.

The big positive so far is the obvious ability of Thelin to calm things down at half-time breaks, to make tactical adjustments/tweaks and to get his side firing from that point on.

The Aberdeen support are also beginning to see glimpses of an identity. We are seeing less aimless balls lumped up the park and the idea of possession for possession's sake is gone - this is a side always striving to move forward.

Of the 15 goals scored in the cup, no fewer than 10 players have got themselves on the scoresheet. For a side who were so reliant on the goals of Bojan Miovski last campaign, this is an immediate improvement.

Incomings have been limited so far. The general feeling is that the club are waiting to see the resolution of the Miovski transfer situation before sinking further funds into the squad.

Dimitar Mitov looks to be an astute piece of business, Gavin Molloy is finding his feet but appears to have earned the trust of Thelin, Peter Ambrose looks like a bit of a project player and Sivert Heltne Nilsen is a player well known to the manager.

Outbound, the Duk saga rumbles on and Miovski continues to be linked with a move away. Otherwise, there has yet to be a departure that feels like it's weakened the starting XI over the summer months.

All in all, it’s going to be an interesting campaign with a keen eye on seeing how Thelin navigates his side through the early stages of the season and maintains the feel-good factor that appears to be emanating from the club.

• Predicted finish: Fourth

• Standout player: Leighton Clarkson

• Game most looking forward to: Scottish Cup final

Gary Scott can be found on the ABZ Football podcast., external

Aberdeen players are "all fully on-board" with boss Jimmy Thelin’s high-press strategy, says defender Jack MacKenzie. (Press & Journal)

Read the rest of Monday's gossip.

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New Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin was delighted to see strikers Ester Sokler and Peter Ambrose score in the 6-0 rout of Dumbarton as Aberdeen progressed in the League Cup.

Sokler grabbed a double while Ambrose scored late on, with last year's top scorer Bojan Miovski left on the bench amid speculation about his future.

"The work Ester does on the training pitch is the important thing," Thelin told club media.

"Every day he’s trying to improve himself and how he plays with his team-mates. Of course, it’s important for his position to score. But also how he defends, how he sacrifices himself for the team.

"It’s always good for the strikers to score, but I don’t want to put pressure on him. It’s most important how he develops and grows as a player."

“Two great finishes, how he arrived in the box and how he kept the calmness in the situation is nice to see. It’s a really good quality he has there.

“You just need to give him good passes inside the box and he has to be there. So good work from him."

Slovenian Sokler has already matched his tally of goals last season with four strikes in the League Cup group stage, while Ambrose's strike against Dumbarton was his first for his new club.

“It was good for Peter to score too," Thelin added. "Like I said, I don’t want to say you have to score, but they have to show up and be there. But if you are a striker and you score, it’s always a good feeling, especially at a new club."

Bojan Miovski was again left on the bench by Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin for the game against Dumbarton, with Spanish club Espanyol joining Italian Serie A sides Genoa and Bologna in having an interest in the forward. (Press & Journal)

Read the rest of Sunday's gossip.

New Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin sees his spell at the Pittodrie club as a three-year project. (Press and Journal - subscription), external

Read Saturday's Scottish gossip