A virus outbreak has hit the Aberdeen squad ahead of their key Premiership trip to face Dundee United on Saturday. Manager Stephen Robinson confirmed the illness has affected multiple players, forcing a last-minute scramble to finalise his team selection.
Robinson said the bug had been moving through the group all week, with players missing training and some only just starting to show symptoms. He described it as a three or four-day illness that gradually worsens. The situation is particularly frustrating for defender Kristers Tobers, who was set to return after 17 months out injured but has now been struck down by the virus. "Your health has to come first, of course," Robinson said, acknowledging the defender's long-awaited comeback will have to wait longer.
Manager's last-minute selection dilemma
Robinson admitted his team selection for the match at Tannadice will be a game-time decision. He cannot finalise his tactics until he sees which players are fit after a Saturday morning assessment. "The plan already changed this morning," he told reporters. The manager explained that even players who are recovering may not be ready for the physical demands of a full match. "You might be fit enough to go back behind a desk, but running around for ninety minutes at the top of your game would be difficult," he noted. Despite the disruption, Robinson insisted he would not make excuses. "It is what it is," he said.
Squad reshuffle and belief in young talent
The crisis presents an opportunity for other players to step up. Robinson expressed strong belief in his squad, which has been rebuilt with ten or eleven free-transfer signings. He specifically mentioned young talents Tony and Ayoub as players he feels will become "top, top players going forward." "I love the players to bits and they give me energy every day," Robinson said, adding that sometimes another player's misfortune creates a chance for someone else. The manager is convinced he can still field a team strong enough to secure back-to-back league wins for the first time this season.
Aberdeen go into the match sitting seventh in the Premiership with 11 points from nine games, just one point behind sixth-placed Dundee United. A victory would see them leapfrog their opponents into the top six. Their form has been solid, with three wins, one draw, and one loss in their last five matches, including a 3-1 home victory over St Mirren last time out. Kevin Nisbet, their top scorer with four goals this season, was on the scoresheet in that win. The Dons have conceded only ten goals, the third-best defensive record outside the Old Firm. They will be looking to repeat their 3-0 victory over Dundee United from the opening day of the season back in August. The full fixtures list shows this is a key moment in their campaign. Robinson summed up the recent run by saying, "We’ve lost one game in six, so we’re okay. We know that we can be better." His team's ability to handle this unexpected setback will be tested from the first whistle at Tannadice on October 24.
This story first appeared at afc.co.uk
