Bojan Miovski ally names the one Aberdeen FC reason that striker will NOT be named Scotland's Player of the Year

Dons striker Bojan Miovski is on red-hot form, with 10 goals in as many games
Bojan Miovski -Credit:SNS Group


Dante Polvara reckons Aberdeen have cost Bojan Miovski his chance of being named as Scotland’s Player of the Year.

The North Macedonian has hit 24 goals this season for the Dons and was the runaway success as he was named as their Player and Players’ Player of the Year at the club awards on Thursday evening. Miovski has also been named in the PFA (Scotland) team of the year and Polvara reckons he would have had a right chance of being named their top player had Aberdeen not been left floundering in the bottom six.

Polvara said: “If we had been doing better then I imagine he would have been a candidate. If we were top six then that would have helped. It is harder to say that when the team hasn’t done so well.

“There are so many good players but on any given day Bojan could quite easily be the best player in the country. He has a lot of qualities. I have seen it every day for the last two years.

“He is a good player, a great guy with massive potential and I am sure he will go on to have a great career. I know he has had a lot of recognition but it is good to see him get our Player of the Year and Players’ award.”

Dutch giants Feyenoord, Southampton and Celtic are just some of the many clubs from across Europe who are keeping tabs on the talented 24-year-old. Polvara believes Miovski has what it takes to go to the very top.

“I am sure he will eventually go somewhere in Europe,” the American said. “He will probably take it a leap at a time.

“If he is given the right time and opportunity then I imagine he will prove he deserves to be where he gets to. Whoever is scouting him will have done their homework, not just watching his highlights but his all-round play.

“They know what he will bring to the team and to the changing room. When he does move I can see him doing really well.”

Polvara has seen Miovski go from strength to strength. He netted 18 goals in his first season in Scotland and his teammate joked he is not short of goals or confidence.

The midfielder said: “Last season he backed himself but you could tell he was new to Scottish football and he was playing for Aberdeen and the pressure that comes with that. Bojan was scoring goals last season but a lot were penalties.

Polvara (left) with Miovski -Credit:SNS Group
Polvara (left) with Miovski -Credit:SNS Group

“He has grown in confidence a lot in the last year. When I came back from my loan spell, he was so confident. Sometimes it is annoying because you have the one guy in the changing room who is so confident. It can be anyone who wants to be a striker.

“Their ups and downs are bigger than anyone on the pitch because one moment can define their entire game. All anyone remembers is someone missing that chance or scoring that goal so you need him to be borderline cocky for the team to be doing well.

“I hope he can take that in the next few years and if he goes somewhere else like Feyenoord then it is something he will keep in his career. You need that confidence to get to the top.”

Interim boss Peter Leven can see exactly why Miovski is grabbing the headlines and he believes he could still cap his own remarkable season by hitting 30 goals. It would take six goals in the last five games but his current boss knows he is more than capable.

Leven said: “Bojan is obviously going to get interest, he’s scored 24 goals this season so of course people will be taking notice. You saw the performance he put in last weekend against Celtic, with his hold up play and terrifying defences.

“He scored his goal as well, so there’s always going to be interest when you’re playing the way he is. How far he goes will be up to Bojan.

“For me, he’s got everything. When I first came in last summer I didn’t realise how good he was and I think he’s kicked on this season.

“He’s stronger, he’s quicker and he’s more intelligent – then add in he’s a natural finisher. We have five games left and I’m sure his target will be to get to 30 goals.

“I don’t think anyone here would deny he’s capable of getting there, it’s well within his grasp. If we keep creating chances for him he’ll put them away.”

Aberdeen open up their bottom-six campaign at home to Motherwell today. Leven wants to put together an unbeaten run but knows his team will need to defend better than they did in the 3-3 the last time the two teams met at Pittodrie.

Peter Leven
Peter Leven -Credit:SNS Group

He said: “Obviously we can’t give them a three-goal head start again like we did the last time! We are at home and we have to take advantage of that.”

Leven is attracting interest from Barnsley over their head coach role. He admitted that has been flattering but he is just concentrating on getting Aberdeen through to the summer and then helping new boss Jimmy Thelin to find his feet.

“It’s nice but I can always improve,” Leven said. “I’m loving it here and I’m here next season with the new manager and staff coming in. It’s nice to get that kind of recognition.”