How Aberdeen stars are faring on international duty as Jimmy Thelin prepares for ‘intense period’

Add as preferred source on Google

Jimmy Thelin wants his Aberdeen side to ‘refocus and reload’ ahead of a challenging period in the Premiership.

The Dons rode into the final international break of 2024 in style as they thumped Dundee 4-1 at a sold-out Pittodrie to keep apace with Celtic at the top of the league.

Unbeaten Aberdeen remain level on points with Celtic and are only second on goal difference, an incredible achievement as we approach the end of November.

Thelin is now looking ahead to the busiest schedule of the season with five games packed inside just 14 days, one of which against title challengers Celtic.

It’s St Mirren this Saturday and then an Edinburgh double header against Hibs and Hearts. Celtic then lie in wait before an easier end to the run versus St Johnstone.

• READ MORE: 8 best Premiership summer transfers as title chasers Aberdeen dominate

Thelin focusing on hectic Aberdeen schedule

As quoted in The Press & Journal, Thelin said: “Hopefully we can come back even stronger after the international break.

“The players who are away with their countries can get some energy from that and good feelings. And those who don’t go away with their national team can recover a bit.

“It is good for everyone as we can refocus and reload for a quite intense period of the season. There are a lot of games coming up.”

Update on Aberdeen’s international stars

Speaking of the Aberdeen players on international duty, of which there are four, how have they been getting on?

Nicky Devlin was handed 14 minutes as a substitute for Scotland against Poland as Steve Clarke gave the right-back – who remained rooted to the bench for Croatia on Friday – his second international cap.

Scotland earned a dramatic 2-1 victory in the Nations League with captain Andy Robertson heading in the winner in Warsaw.

Slobodan Rubezic has been an excellent performer for the Dons this season but sadly wasn’t rewarded with any game time for Montenegro against either Wales or Iceland.

Topi Keskinen has been away with the Finland U21s and played 75 minutes against Norway in a crushing 5-1 victory.

And the imperious Dimitar Mitov kept a clean sheet against Luxembourg for Bulgaria while also playing in the 1-1 draw Belarus.