Aberdeen could welcome back goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov from injury against Kilmarnock on Boxing Day.
The Bulgarian stopper has been a huge miss for the Dons of late with Jimmy Thelin’s side winless in six Premiership games after defeat to Hibs on Saturday.
Mitov injured his hamstring at the start of December against Hearts and it was said at the time that he would be unavailable until the middle of January.
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Mitov could play for Aberdeen against Kilmarnock
But it appears his recovery has gone quicker than expected and Aberdeen boss Thelin has confirmed that Mitov returned to full training on Christmas Eve.
Thelin told reporters at his pre-match Kilmarnock press conference: “Dimi will train fully today and at least will be available (for Kilmarnock).”
Mitov has missed games against Celtic, St Johnstone and the Hibs loss with Ross Doohan deputising in his absence.
Thelin on Kilmarnock vs Aberdeen Boxing Day clash
On the Kilmarnock challenge in Ayrshire, Thelin remarked: “It’s going to be good. We’re going to travel on Christmas Day and have a good journey together and prepare for an exciting game.
“We will give everything we can for our supporters and each other. You have to believe that. Football is about challenges.
“You have away games, home games, different opponents and some play in some ways. But you have to go in with our belief in what we are doing and don’t find excuses about the pitch, etc.
“If it’s away or home, you have to give everything and that’s what you can do.
“You can try and you have to give everything you have and then you can feel a better feeling after the game that you actually do what you want to do in that game.
“We have a strong belief we can get a good result there.”