Kevin Nisbet eyes up Celtic clash return as Aberdeen handed major Premier Sports Cup semi final boost

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Jimmy Thelin has confirmed Kevin Nisbet has given Aberdeen a pre-Premier Sports Cup semi-final boost.

The Scotland striker has missed the last two games with a muscle injury but will return to training on Friday, ahead of Saturday’s Hampden clash with Celtic. It is another massive boost to have the forward back on the back of Wednesday’s big Premiership win over Rangers. Thelin, who is preparing for his first visit to the national stadium, said: “The medical team did an amazing job this morning and everybody is ready to go, and even Kevin was out, and he's going to train fully tomorrow, so that's good. So we have everybody prepared for the game."

Aberdeen head to Hampden on the back of an amazing 16 game unbeaten record. The Dons only draw in that sequence came when they drew at table-topping Celtic, coming back from two goals behind. Thelin reckons his team needs to focus on themselves, their identity and what they are looking to achieve.

Thelin went on: “Yes, always like we talk more about preparing ourselves, believing in what we are doing then it's a football game, you always have to respect the opponent, but they believe in our identity, the team spirit is really strong, so that's what we're working with. Yeah, I think like, when you're working in this business, you have to always find this passion, and believe in yourself, and be ready, the schedule is there.

“So, I think the players are looking forward to the game a lot, they know how much it means for Aberdeen Football Club and the supporters, and it's a big game, so I think it's quite easy to prepare yourself for that game.”

The Dons gave Celtic a bit of a second half fright at Celtic Park and Thelin doesn’t think there will be too many surprises sprung from either side. He explained: “It's a cup game, it's winning or losing, and we have to have a strong belief in what we're doing, as usual.

“Brendan is a good coach, Celtic is a good team,but also we know the situation, it's a semi-final, so we have to prepare ourselves for that one.

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“Yeah, I think like all the teams today, a lot of information is out there. They're so good, the scouting system, everybody knows a lot about each other. So for us it's more to, we know what they're good at, we know their strengths, so for us it's more about trying to be even better in our parts of the game, have a strong belief in what we're going to do, and keep working on that, and then the game is there.”

“Of course, I can imagine Brendan and Celtic learned things about us, and we also learned things about them, but then it's still more to respect their qualities and find the weakness and we have to prepare for this game.”

Jamie McGrath missed a penalty in the win over Rangers but his manager is quite happy to put him on the spot at Hampden. He claimed: “No, football is football, and sometimes you make a mistake or it's a good save,or whatever happens.

“It can be not just only a penalty, whatever, but that happens to everyone and if you want to take the next one, you should take it. I think that you keep moving and believe in yourself, and we believe in him."

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