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Scottish Premiership - Aberdeen v Motherwell

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STRIKE DUO TO MISS CUP TIE


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Dons strikers Darren Mackie and Steve Lovell are out of Sunday's Scottish Cup showdown with Celtic.

 

Mackie, who was listed as a substitute, missed the 3-1 SPL defeat by Rangers at Ibrox due to a recurrent hamstring injury.

 

Dons manager Jimmy Calderwood fears Mackie could be out for more than a month.

 

 

 

Lovell scored the Aberdeen goal but then suffered a foot injury that could sideline him for two weeks.

 

Calderwood admitted the loss of both strikers is a massive blow ahead of the cup-tie, which the Dons must win to keep their season alive.

 

Calderwood said: "Darren got the injury in the first minute of our last session before going to Glasgow.

 

"He didn't even travel and be out for as much as six weeks.

 

"That is a massive blow, especially with Lovell struggling as well.

 

"He is in a in a lot of discomfort as well and it looks as if the injury will keep him out for two weeks."

 

Derek Young and Jamie Smith could ease the pain for the Dons by declaring themselves fit for Sunday's showdown.

 

Both are expected to return to full training this week.

 

Calderwood said: "Derek and Jamie can both play up front, so that would be a boost."

 

Celtic hammered the Dons 5-1 on their last league visit to Pittodrie but Calderwood is convinced his men can bounce back in the cup match.

 

"I doubt if Gordon Strachan will be coming here thinking they are in for an easy time." he said.

 

"Even though we lost 5-1 the last time, we still had some great chances at crucial stages of the game. "Darren Mackie missed a good one early on and we also let another go when it was only 2-0.

 

"If we get the first goal on Sunday it will be interesting to see how things work out.

 

"The players are also fired up because they taken a lot of flak in recent weeks, even though we've had key men missing for long spells.

 

"Sunday will be all about showing enough belief and determination and I can promise the fans we are in for a rip roaring cup tie."

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Mackie, who was listed as a substitute, missed the 3-1 SPL defeat by Rangers at Ibrox due to a recurrent hamstring injury.

 

Dons manager Jimmy Calderwood fears Mackie could be out for more than a month.

 

Calderwood said: "Darren got the injury in the first minute of our last session before going to Glasgow.

 

"He didn't even travel and be out for as much as six weeks.

 

Two words:

 

Rushed.

 

Back.

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Two words:

 

Rushed.

 

Back.

 

Seems to always be the way.  Mackie rushed back too quick many times this season as has Jamie Smith.  Others that spring to mind include Byrne and Macnamara this season, whilst Severin's ongoing knee problems are risked every week despite doing little or no training each week.

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LOVELL IN LINE TO GIVE DONS CUP LIFT

 

08:50 - 04 March 2008

 

Aberdeen forward Steve Lovell is being primed to fire his side into the semi-final of the Scottish Cup after surviving an injury scare.

 

The Englishman is winning in his bid to be fit for Sunday's quarter-final showdown with Celtic at Pittodrie.

 

Dons manager Jimmy Calderwood had ruled the former Dundee player and fellow attacker Darren Mackie out of the tie.

 

Lovell was scored off the squad list due to an injury sustained in the 3-1 defeat at Rangers. Yesterday it emerged the initial diagnosis was overly cautious and the forward, who was on target at Ibrox on Saturday, is back in his manager's cup plans.

 

Calderwood said: "Steve was in a lot of discomfort on Saturday and we thought he would be out for a while.

 

"He took a bad knock on his Achilles and we feared the worst - but he was much better on Sunday and could be back in three or four days, which is encouraging."

 

The news on Mackie is less encouraging, with Calderwood unable to offer any timescale for the player's return. He said: "We still don't know how long Darren will be out for. He lasted less than a minute of the warm-up on Friday due to a pulled muscle in his groin and his movement was badly affected. I know it must be serious as Darren is not a lad who sits out training."

 

Calderwood is still waiting to hear whether Jamie Smith and Derek Young will be clear to return for the crucial game at Pittodrie but, with Barry Nicholson ruled out due to suspension, the Dons manager is desperately hoping for good news.

 

He said: "Barry's suspension for Sunday is a massive blow for us but Scott Brown is missing for Celtic, so both managers will have to change their approach a bit.

 

"I had hoped Jamie and Derek would be available for Sunday's game but that may have been wishful thinking on the manager's part.

 

"I have to speak to the physios to see when the players will get the all-clear to resume training, but it would give us a big lift to have them both back for Sunday. Jamie is the talisman for us and, behind Zander Diamond, Derek has been one of most consistent players this season."

 

The possible return of key players would be welcomed by the Aberdeen manager, who has renewed confidence of creating a cup upset against the holders this weekend following the display of his players at Ibrox.

 

He said: "We can go into the game with a bit of confidence. We created more chances at Ibrox on Saturday than any team of mine has ever done, which is very pleasing. We can take a lot of positives from our performance, if not the result.

 

"We defended really well but once again silly littlemistakes cost us dear."

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AAAAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!   :hammer:

 

"I had hoped Jamie and Derek would be available for Sunday's game but that may have been wishful thinking on the manager's part.

 

"I have to speak to the physios to see when the players will get the all-clear to resume training, but it would give us a big lift to have them both back for Sunday."

They're injured, he's going to speak to the physios to see if they can train, then if they can train he's going to throw them into 90 minutes on Sunday.

 

Smacks of desperation and rushing them back.  Anyone want to run a book as to how long they'll last?

 

:hammer:

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AAAAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!  :hammer:

They're injured, he's going to speak to the physios to see if they can train, then if they can train he's going to throw them into 90 minutes on Sunday.

 

Smacks of desperation and rushing them back.  Anyone want to run a book as to how long they'll last?

 

:hammer:

 

I know what you're saying but Jamie Smith is a big game player and he pulled it off in the Copenhagen game.

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