DEREK McInnes sees no reason why his Aberdeen side can't make an impact in Europe this summer as he insists Scottish football isn't as far behind the continental game as is often believed.

The Dons manager, proud that his team have finished runners-up in the country's top tier for the first time in 21 years, welcomes the immediacy of the Europa League qualifiers which will thrust his side into action in early July following a short break after a punishing season.

He admitted there was little room for manoeuvre in terms of the money available for new recruits, though that would not adversely alter the buoyancy of a squad that has run Celtic, visitors to Pittodrie today, almost to the wire in the race for the Premiership title.

"Our budget is the same and we're not all of a sudden awash with money where we can start doing this and that. We have to use what we have wisely," said McInnes.

"We'll try to have a good go in Europe and we know you have to be properly prepared for it and ready for it, which is probably the thing that goes against most Scottish clubs.

"The players enjoyed the European campaign last season, as did the supporters and it's exciting that we've got that again."

McInnes is stimulated by having to act hastily once the draw for Europa League qualifying ties is made, something he learned to do last summer.

"I like the fact that you have to move quickly," he said, "especially in between rounds. When the draw is made you've only got 10 days to prepare for the games, find out about the opposition and then have to take a more measured approach at times and deploy a bit more tactical awareness because of the unknown quantity of the opposition.

"I don't think Scottish football's too far away from European football. More teams are trying to play the game the right way, up and down the leagues. We're not the best at it, but we're trying and there are good coaches in Scotland trying to get their teams playing the right way.

"What we have at Aberdeen is a confident dressing room; players who believe in themselves."

One person who clearly comes into that category is Adam Rooney who will enter today's game with 27 goals to his credit this season.

Named Aberdeen's player of the year, Rooney believes there is improvement to come from the Reds as he recalled their last-minute defeat to the Celtic at Pittodrie in November, a win that sparked controversial celebrations after which Ronny Deila, their manager, described Virgil van Djik's winner as "orgasmic".

"I'm pleased with the way things have gone this season, as we came back early for the Europa League qualifiers and we managed to get a good start," said Rooney. "We have kicked on from then and when you see the points we have compared to last time then it's been great and, hopefully, we can kick on again next time.

"Obviously, it would have been nice to still be in with a shout of winning the league but that's finished now. It's still a big game though and one we want to win after some disappointing results against them. Celtic have come out on top in the head-to-heads this time even though we beat them a couple of times last season.

"We actually feel that we have come close a couple of times this year, especially in the last match here in November when we were unlucky If we put in a performance that we know we can then, hopefully, we will get a result this time."