Luis 'Duk' Lopes is set to make his return to the Aberdeen squad for their upcoming Scottish Premiership match against Dundee, marking his first inclusion under manager Jimmy Thelin.
After a lengthy period of absence and missing pre-season training, Duk rejoined the first team at the start of September, and Thelin is confident that the forward is now ready to contribute on the football pitch - something the Cape Verde international done so successfully when he first arrived at Pittodrie two year's ago.
“Duk can be back in the squad," Thelin explained as Aberdeen head to Dens Park backed by a 4,000+ strong away support.
"We will travel with 21 players so maybe he will be. He was ready in his fitness levels when he came back but it was about the adaptation to how we play now.
"There are some differences and we have to give him responsibility in that role. So we’ve had to give him time so he can make a good impact when he plays.
“That’s the journey he’s had to make because he’s missed a lot of sessions. But he’s been behaving well, training well and more and more every week it’s coming.
“He runs without the ball behind the lines, he’s also a good player for set plays and target playing. His pace in one-v-one situations, he’s a strong player.”
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In related news, Thelin has confirmed that Aberdeen has granted assistant manager Peter Leven permission to speak with St Johnstone regarding their managerial vacancy.
Leven, who had an impressive interim spell in charge of the Dons at the end of last season, has emerged as a leading candidate to replace Craig Levein at McDiarmid Park.
Although Thelin is eager to keep Leven on his staff, he will not stand in the way if St Johnstone decides to extend an offer and the 41-year-old wants to accept it.
“He got permission to talk with them,” the Swede said at Friday’s press conference. “He’s a good coach and it’s good that our staff catch the eye. It’s up to them and to Peter but he’s focusing on preparing for our game tomorrow.
“Peter is helping us understand Scottish football quicker. He is full of energy, he brings a lot to the training pitch, with his Scottish background, everything about him is good for us to have inside the staff.
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“Always when you lose staff or players, you will miss them but you have to find solutions for the future.
“When good people are doing good things, they get eyes on them. We want him to stay here but it’s his decision. It’s good that he’s getting recognition from another club.”
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