Aberdeen midfielder Connor Ronan has backed captain Kevin Nisbet to surpass the 20-goal mark this season, citing the striker's current form and clinical finishing.
Nisbet, who has been tipped for a Scotland recall by manager Stephen Robinson, has already scored 12 goals in 13 games in a strong start to the campaign. Many of his goals have come in the Premier Sports Cup, but he has also scored in back-to-back league matches against Motherwell and Hibs before the break.
Ronan's confidence in Nisbet
Ronan said: "I think the cup games at the start of the year were good for us as a team and for him especially to get off the mark."
"As he spoke about in the past, obviously not starting seasons too well and I obviously didn't know about that until I came in. I think if we can get him going like we've got him going now and keep that consistent throughout the season then you're looking at a striker who can score 20-plus goals throughout the year. And I'm sure that will be his aim."
Ronan believes that if Aberdeen can get the ball into the box, Nisbet will convert chances on current form. "It feels like if he gets a chance he's going to put it in the net," the midfielder claimed.
"And I've not played with too many players like that to be fair where it just feels like even if it's a half chance he's got a good chance of putting it in. Even the goal against Kilmarnock I've kind of just threw a ball in the box pretty high, probably not the best cross and he's put a header into the far corner. It feels like if we can just get him them chances he'll get us the goals."
"It's a nice feeling to have as someone who's playing behind him and trying to feed him and get him the chances. You have that confidence that if he gets one he's probably going to put it in."
Mouloua adds attacking depth
Aberdeen have been heavily reliant on Nisbet, but new signing Ayoub Mouloua could help share the scoring burden. He scored his first goal against Motherwell and netted a double in the friendly win at Dunfermline Athletic.
Ronan said: "It's a nice problem for the manager to have when you've got different options all over the pitch which I feel like we're coming into now. We've got a lot of competition for places and especially at the top end of the pitch and it's been good."
"It's been good to see him get that goal and it's always nice for players, including myself, when you come to a new club to kind of get that first goal. There is a little bit of relief with that that you can go on and score a few more as well so hopefully we see that from him after getting his first."
Ronan also noted Mouloua's unpredictable style: "I think it's when players obviously you're not really quite sure what they're going to do. His goal against Motherwell is a prime example where he goes through on goal maybe could have took it earlier, stays on the ball, maybe looks like the chance is gone and then puts it in the top corner."
"These players, when they probably do things a little bit differently, it's hard for defenders to read and long may it continue. He definitely knows where the net is and it's nice when you've got strikers who know how to put the ball in the net."
