Jimmy Thelin says Pape Habib Gueye is still on track to return for Aberdeen sometime in January.
The 25-year-old striker has been sidelined for around 10 weeks with a quad muscle tear and had to undergo surgery to repair it.
He’s been a miss for the Dons, who have had to rotate between Ester Sokler and on-loan striker Kevin Nisbet in Gueye’s absence.
It was already common knowledge that Gueye would likely return in the new year but Thelin has now rubber-stamped this.
Pape Habib Gueye set for January Aberdeen return
As quoted in The Press & Journal, Thelin answered in relation to Gueye’s return timeline: “It is sometime in January. Exactly when in January I can’t say. But somewhere around there, not earlier than that.
“The thing with Pape is he has some different skills than we have in the squad right now. Pape is a good player that we want to get back as soon as possible.
“Until then we have supported him to help him come back. Everything is easy when it goes well. But the most important thing is how we support each other when it is tough times.
“It can be different. Sometimes it can be an injury or something can happen outside football. That is when you have to show how you support your teammates as friends.
“We also have a really strong medical team and support at the club. However, when you get an injury it is about how you take care of yourself.
“Pape has done really well. There is always a big smile on Pape’s face and a lot of positive energy. He is quite determined to come back even stronger.”
Aberdeen missing Gueye’s goal threat
Gueye was signed in the summer of 2023 for £500k but struggled to break into the Aberdeen team last season.
However, Thelin gave him opportunities at the start of this campaign and it’s safe to say he delivered.
The Senegalese scored five goals in five Premiership games before his injury blow and that attacking threat has been missing for the Dons of late.
Sokler and Nisbet only have five goals between them in the league and are struggling to find the net regularly amid Aberdeen’s five-game winless run.
Gueye’s return will be huge for Thelin’s men but there’s still around a month to wait yet.