FOR some managers, an injury crisis slap-bang in the middle of a busy fixture list would represent something of a setback. For Aberdeen’s Stephen Glass though, such an outcome only brings opportunity.

The Dons host Livingston in the Scottish Premiership this evening, looking to bring a run of three consecutive defeats to a close as they look to recapture the form of their mini-revival at the end of last month when victories over Hearts and Hibs lifted the mood around Pittodrie.

Glass does not have his troubles to seek going into the game with David Martindale’s side, with his backline looking particularly stretched. Centre-backs Declan Gallagher, Michael Devlin and Andy Considine are all missing – forcing Scott Brown to slot in further back in defence – while right-sided defender Calvin Ramsay also remains sidelined through injury.

Glass, however, is remaining upbeat. He recalled that Aberdeen’s best run of results this season arrived when the squad was down to its bare bones and the games were coming thick and fast. With his team in a similar situation now, he hopes that history will repeat itself.

“Maybe the boys don’t like our training,” he joked when asked about the hectic festive fixture list. “I think the players ultimately want to play games.

“It’s a good reflection on the players that any time the games have come thick and fast they have understood everything and the players like playing games. I hope that continues to be the case.

“The amount of defenders that we’ve lost has caused us a bit of a problem. Moving Scott to the back has probably weakened our midfield a touch. He’s here to play midfield and is having to play at centre-back so that’s been tough.

“It’s coincided with a run of good performances and some results as well. It’s been a little bit of an eye-opener, seeing what people can handle and what positions they can play. Hopefully we’ve been through the weakest that the group can be for the whole season now.”

Aberdeen are not blessed with the sort of squad depth enjoyed by either half of Glasgow’s big two, so having players who are capable of adapting to learning new roles and positions can be a significant factor when the going gets tough.

Glass admits that his players’ versatility is particularly useful at this time of year.

“The injury list that we’ve suffered has shown that you need players who can play in multiple positions,” he reasoned.

“One of the games we played, we had three midfield players at the back which is obviously difficult. The players have handled everything that has been thrown at them to be fair.

“We’ve asked people to play in multiple positions and they’ve shown that they can handle it. That’s what you want at your club, players who can play in multiple positions or at least more than one.”

Dons attacker Marley Watkins, meanwhile, is expecting a physical contest against Livingston this evening but insists that he and his team-mates are up for the fight.

A win for Aberdeen would leave them on the brink of breaking into the top six, while a defeat would see the Lions leapfrog their opponents and drag them firmly into the relegation dogfight – prompting Watkins to issue a rally to arms.

“Livingston scrap and are very good at what they do, they battle well so we will have to be up for the fight,” he explained. “If we can match their scrap then hopefully the quality comes through.

“Everyone knows we are not in a good position for Aberdeen and it’s disappointing but we have been in every game and it’s fine margins. It looks worse than it is, but we need to be better in attack and get the wins.

“Results will come but now is the time to do it because we have said it quite a lot. I thought we’d turned the corner that week we beat Hearts, Hibs and drew with Rangers when we should have won.

“But we have had a couple of defeats so it’s back to square one. We need to turn it around again.”