Aberdeen manager Barry Robson insists he has no issues around Ross McCrorie returning to his side for their penultimate match of the season against St Mirren despite the midfielder edging closer to a switch to Bristol City.
Bristol Live understands that a fee in the region of £2m has been agreed with the Scottish Premiership outfit for the 25-year-old with just a few minor contractual issues to be resolved, but McCrorie is widely expected to sign for the Robins.
The former Rangers man has missed the Dons’ last three games after undergoing a hernia operation but Robson has declared him fit to play in his starting XI and indicated his performance won’t be impacted by the uncertainty around his future.
“Ross McCrorie is a strong character,” Robson told the Press & Journal. “He is our vice-captain, a brilliant boy and leader who loves playing for the club. I have no concerns for Ross. None. Zero.
“He is a real driven character who wants to play well. Ross is an Aberdeen player and that is all I am concerned about.
“He has performed really well for me and I’m really pleased with him. I’m looking forward to seeing him against St Mirren and hopefully he will be at his best.”
A point would secure third-placed Aberdeen a spot in the UEFA Conference League next season, while they stand two points above Hearts in fourth. McCrorie, when fit, has been a mainstay of the side, so should he not play tonight at Pittodrie it can be viewed as a surprise.
Although he wasn’t directly named, for obvious reasons, McCrorie is understood to be one of the signings City manager Nigel Pearson was referring to this month when he declared the Robins were close to securing two new players, with the other being Joe Bryan as his contract at Fulham expires.
McCrorie has been scouted throughout much of 2022/23 after being highlighted to Pearson by City's recruitment and analytics team and the Robins have beaten Norwich City and West Brom to his signature.
City remain interested in signing AFC Wimbledon’s Jack Currie and Crystal Palace defender Jake O’Brien, and are working on other as yet unknown targets, but there has been no breakthrough in any other deals as yet.
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