Jimmy Thelin has confirmed Dante Polvara is back in the Aberdeen squad for the St Mirren game.
The fit-again midfielder was part of the Dons travelling party that headed for Glasgow this afternoon. It is the first time the American has been involved under Thelin because he tore his hamstring in pre-season training. Polvara is likely to be eased back into things but is part of the squad for Saturday’s Paisley clash.
Thelin said: “I think he’s trained well now, so that’s why we travel with 21 tomorrow. Let’s see which one we choose in the last call. But it’s good to have, because we have a quite intense period now, in two blocks. We have these five games now, and then we go again. So, I think it’s good to have as many players as possible available.
“And they have also different qualities and to keep the intensity high inside the team, and make some changes when we can. That’s good to have the options.”
Thelin admitted Polvara had been doing well up to his injury and is keen to see him in a red shirt. The Swede added: “I can’t remember exactly how many weeks he was in training before he got injured. So, I didn’t see him so much, but he started well in the training camp and also, his last part of last season, he did really well.
“So, it’s good to have this quality. He also has different characteristics than the other players. So, I think he’s a good weapon for us to use in different positions on the pitch when we can.
Polvara is back but defender Angus MacDonald and Pape Habib Gueye miss out through injury. Aberdeen have already beaten St Mirren at home this season and Thelin knows what to expect from Stephen Robinson’s side.
He explained: “No, it’s like, again, it’s a good team we’re going to play against. “They are really direct in their approach to the game. “It’s a compact team, well-organised and they have good parts of the game, how they create chances, so we have to be ready and be strong in our defence. But also, with the ball, we have to be clever in how we can attack them in a good way.”
The Granite City has been covered in snow for most of the week but Thelin has insisted it hasn’t impacted his squad’s preparations. He stated: “We could prepare as usual and have good sessions, even if there was some snow or wind, but the pitch was really, really good.”