Jimmy Thelin issues contract updates and praises star Aberdeen defender ahead of Spartans cup clash
Jimmy Thelin is refusing to take Spartans lightly when the League Two side face Aberdeen at Pittodrie for a place in the Premier Sports Cup semi-finals.
Under the Swede, the Dons have coasted through the competition, and now sit 90 minutes away from a first trip to Hampden of the season, with Thelin's side given the kinder draw of the last eight ties.
But the Reds boss is wary of the threats they pose after they stunned Premiership side Ross County in the last 16, something he is eager to avoid when the two sides do battle on Saturday evening.
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Speaking to the media ahead of the quarter-final tie, Thelin said: "It’s a really important game. It’s a cup game, they have a good coach. I think he is the longest serving coach at one club now in Scotland, they have some experience, ex-Premiership players.
"They beat Ross County in the last round. We need to be really focused on this one and prepare ourselves and go with all we have to try and win this game tomorrow to get through to the next round.
"Spartans are doing well. You can see they’re well organised, they’re well connected. There are some ideas how they link up the game and arrive to crosses. I think they are performing well.
"They are fourth in their league right now, a stable team. We need to play our parts with the high quality, otherwise they’re well organised and it’s difficult to open them up."
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One Dons star who impressed last weekend was Jack MacKenzie, who made his 100th appearance for the club and helped his club to an incredible 10-game winning streak.
That could soon become 11 if they avoid any shocks, but away from the fixture there are questions surrounding the futures of MacKenzie and Jamie McGrath, as Thelin fielded questions on their contract situations.
He added: "The dialog with the club is good and Steven Gunn is making that process. Let’s see what is happening. I can’t speak for the players but there’s a process there.
"Jack MacKenzie made his 100th appearance for Aberdeen at the weekend, I am always happy when players are breaking through and playing. 100 games already at that age I think is impressive.
"He’s doing fine and I think he’s taking small steps all the time. I don’t know so much about last season but when I speak to Peter Leven, the last part of last season he did really well and make a big step in his career. Hopefully he can keep going with that."
McGrath and MacKenzie will likely start the Spartans clash, while Dante Polvara is still sidelined with a hamstring injury, but there is good news involving Graeme Shinnie who looks set to return to the fold.
The captain missed the Motherwell victory through illness, but while his return brings a positive update fans will possibly have to wait a little longer to see Duk gain his first minutes of the season.
Thelin commented: "Duk has done enough to get into the squad but I think he is still maybe one week or so before he’s ready to compete with other guys inside the squad. He’s going to be out for this game also but he’s doing really well in the sessions.
"His timings with the teammates is better and better. He is adapting really quickly. It’s only two weeks but he understands the game well and adapting. We can also use his qualities when he is more connected with the team.
"Graeme Shinnie had some days out (through illness) but now he’s much better and trained well today also. Dante is still out but otherwise everybody is ready to play."
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The Reds have built a winning side that is taking each game as they come with impressive displays, but Thelin is wary of the pressure facing his squad after an unbeaten start to the campaign.
"I think that’s why we need to be strong in our identity," he added. "There is always some way of pressure but I think you also have to embrace it and see it and see it as a positive way that people believe in you and push you.
"I think that’s why we have found a good level inside the games. Sometimes we also have some games, when we were winning in the end but we keep going and this extra energy from the fans helps us and they push us in the right way.
"It’s a cup game, you have to win or your out. That is the different part from the league game, we always try to think about it in the same way.
"Game by game and try to have the same preparation and not change anything in our mentality and get this stable performance. You cannot always be up here but you can’t drop too low.
"You have to be stable to get the points and the victories. Tomorrow is no different from the other games."