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."

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.

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

 

Declaring themselves fit.

 

What are we paying medical staff for?

If Lovell was hurt why was he not taken off?

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.

Jimmy said on the radio the Lovell injury came from the incident with McGregor which was near the end of the game.

Jimmy said on the radio the Lovell injury came from the incident with McGregor which was near the end of the game.

 

someone on MAd claims they spoke to Lovell and he hopes to be back for the weekend.

 

heres hoping

Declaring themselves fit.

 

Div ye nae ken how medicals work in fitba min?

Div ye nae ken how medicals work in fitba min?

 

No...

if I pass a UKOOA "return to work medical" it is still up to me whether I decide if I am capable of returning to full duties at work... a medical is just a piece of paper!

 

Two words:

 

Rushed.

 

Back.

 

A few more for you. Idiot medical staff yet again. If he has a dicey hammy he should not be anywhere near a fucking training session. See also Smith restarining a "recurrent" hamstring injury at the last kick of a training session.

 

Abso-fucking-lutely disgraceful.

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."

Good news IMO.

 

Miller and Lovell upfront with Jamie SMith on the wing.

 

 

Was thinking that it was a good thing that Brown was suspended, but then they'll just bring in Robson and we know what his record is like against us...  

but then they'll just bring in Robson and we know what his record is like against us...  

 

I really hate that fucking ginger tink! Got nothing else to add to this thread other than the fact I hate that carrot headed bastard.

AAAAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!   

 

"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?

 

AAAAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!! 

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?

 

 

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

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

 

Then did the same thing with his hamstring though I'm reliably informed it was a back injury causing his issues.

The ever reliable sun had quotes from calderwood this morning saying mackie will be out for up to 6 months

The ever reliable sun had quotes from calderwood this morning saying mackie will be out for up to 6 months

 

If that's true then new scapegoat required.

The ever reliable sun had quotes from calderwood this morning saying mackie will be out for up to 6 months

 

Months? Nae weeks? Maybe a contract in the offing for Stevie if true, doubt it is though..

If that's true then new scapegoat required.

 

No worries. JC is still there and of course Dick Byrne is due back. We are overburdened with scapegoats for our loyal fans to tear a new one.

No worries. JC is still there and of course Dick Byrne is due back. We are overburdened with scapegoats for our loyal fans to tear a new one.

 

Derek Young too.

Derek Young too.

 

How he slunk under the radar . . . . he may have been missed by me, but one slack pass and  . . . .

Actually according to the record Mackie will miss up to 6 weeks

 

Bloody sun  :hammer:

Was thinking that it was a good thing that Brown was suspended, but then they'll just bring in Robson and we know what his record is like against us... 

 

Wrong as he is cup tied.