Stephen Robinson has hailed Findlay Marshall as the perfect inspiration for Aberdeen's academy hopefuls after the midfielder secured a new deal. The manager confirmed Marshall's contract extension as a direct reward for seizing his first-team opportunity following a productive loan at Arbroath.
Marshall, who was told he could leave by former manager Jimmy Thelin, had to do things the hard way. He was sent out on loan to gain experience and returned to nail down a top-team spot in recent weeks. "He grabbed his opportunity with both hands," Robinson said, using the 22-year-old's journey as a motivational example for other young players at the club.
Manager backs youth and stability
Robinson highlighted his commitment to integrating youth, a policy evident even during a challenging start to the season that sees Aberdeen eighth in the Premiership with eight points from eight games. He pointed to Andrew Fasanya's debut at 15 years of age and Cooper Masson's place on the bench at Dundee as further evidence. "I have shown I will give young players their chance," Robinson said. "I gave Andrew Fasanya his debut at 15 years of age."
This philosophy comes amid a significant squad overhaul completed over the summer. The manager's track record of developing young talent, established during his successful spell at Motherwell, is now being applied at Pittodrie. Fans can track the progress of these emerging players on the club's official squad page.
Team focused on short-term results
Despite planning for the future, the immediate priority is securing results. Aberdeen's form has been mixed, with a disappointing 1-0 home loss to St Johnstone last time out followed by a more encouraging run of two wins and two draws in the previous five matches. Robinson stressed that conversations about the January transfer window are premature. "We’ve had conversations but January is a long, long way away at this moment in time," he confirmed. The immediate goal is to string together a couple of wins to climb from their current mid-table position.
The Dons are looking for that spark when they host St Mirren this weekend, a side sitting just one place above them in seventh. The team will be keen to avenge a 2-0 defeat in the last meeting between the sides back in April.
Mouloua fitness in doubt for St Mirren clash
A key concern ahead of that match is the fitness of striker Ayoub Mouloua. The forward, who scored a brace in the 4-1 win at Dunfermline earlier this month, was substituted against St Johnstone after a hefty head knock. Aberdeen's medical staff conducted concussion protocols as a safety precaution, and the club is waiting to see if he will be available for selection against St Mirren.
With the squad sitting on a goal difference of minus two, finding a consistent attacking threat is important. Current top scorer Kevin Nisbet has three goals this season, and the team's offensive output can be reviewed in the detailed stats. Robinson's side will aim to start moving in the right direction with a positive result at Pittodrie on Saturday, 17 October.
This story first appeared at aberdeenlive.news
