Kristers Tobers is back in training but Aberdeen manager Stephen Robinson is refusing to put a timescale on his return. The Latvian international captain has endured an injury nightmare over the past 10 months, first suffering a knee injury and then catching an infection in the wound.
Tobers Cleared to Step Up Comeback
Robinson confirmed that Tobers has seen a specialist and been given the all-clear to increase his training workload. “Kristers went to the specialist, so he's been given the all-clear to step up his comeback,” Robinson said. “He had a little bit of a setback with an infection in his knee, but we've got the all-clear for him now to crack on with. The exact timeline, I don't know. He's been out a long time, so I would be against putting an actual date on that because I want to make sure he comes back 100% without any pressure.”
Dons Continue Premier Sports Cup Campaign
Robinson got off to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over Brora Rangers on Tuesday, thanks to a double from Kevin Nisbet. Aberdeen will look to maintain their 100% record in the Premier Sports Cup when Queen’s Park visit Pittodrie. The manager hopes to have Alexander Briedl, Stuart Armstrong and Kenan Bilalovic back for that game. Midfielders Ante Palaversa and Kjartan Kjartansson also missed the Brora match but are expected to be available for the midweek trip to Queen of the South.
“They are both injured. They will hopefully be fit in the next two or three days. They are not major injuries,” Robinson said. “Alex Briedl and Stuart Armstrong, the same and Kenan Bilalovic. We are hoping to have at least three of them back for Saturday and the other two early next week.”
Gyamfi Still Sidelined
Left-back Emmanuel Gyamfi is likely to be out for a few more weeks. “Again, he needs to go back next week to get the okay to continue and step up his rehab. So at the moment, it's quite conservative and again, a timeline on that, I'm not 100% sure of. It'll be hopefully weeks rather than months,” Robinson added.
Summer Squad Overhaul
Robinson has conducted major surgery on his squad this summer, signing 10 outfield players. German goalkeeper Marius Muller will join from Wolfsburg to compete with Dimitar Mitov for the number one spot. Robinson is still looking for options at full-back and in wide areas, and admitted there could be further incomings, especially if more players leave. Winger Nicolas Milanovic has agreed a deal to rejoin Western Sydney Wanderers.
“We've managed to do that and the board have been fantastic. We could have waited for players to leave, but players were never going to leave until the windows in other countries opened. Obviously, with the World Cup going on, it delayed the transfer market a little bit, but we were able to crack on and bring players in. I've been supported really well on that. There'll still be more players to leave. That's just the nature of football. We'll then look at the squad and see what else we need to strengthen,” Robinson concluded.
