Aberdeen's Scottish Premiership preparations have faced another setback with the news that Leighton Clarkson's shoulder injury may sideline him for the first two months of the season.
The 22-year-old midfielder, shined during the Dons' recent Premier Sports Cup group stage campaign, was forced to leave the pitch in the 55th minute of last weekend's 6-0 triumph over Dumbarton.
Reports indicate that Clarkson could be unavailable until late September due to the injury. This news compounds the challenges for the Dons, as fellow midfielder Dante Polvara is already out long-term with a hamstring injury.
A statement from the club confirmed the news, “The manager has announced that Leighton Clarkson has suffered a shoulder injury that will keep him out for up to eight weeks. The talented midfielder had started the season strongly, but a collision during last weekend's game revealed a fracture in his shoulder. We wish Leighton a swift recovery.”
Aberdeen will begin their league campaign under new manager Jimmy Thelin with an away match against St Johnstone on Monday night, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
Thelin hopes other players can step up in Clarkson's absence and also suggested that the Pittodrie recruitment team are always looking for "solutions" in the transfer market.
“I feel sorry for Leighton," he said. "He’s a good guy and he started the season really well and has been important for us. But that’s football, we need to find solutions for him and for Dante who is also not available. That’s our job now.
“Sometimes it gives opportunities to other players. Of course we feel like both Dante and Leighton are really good guys and players, and it’s not nice when they get setbacks like this. But they have our support and hopefully they get back stronger and can still give energy to the locker room.”
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The Swede then went on to outline how he wants his team to look when he takes his first league bow at McDiarmid Park.
"For me it's about the performance," he explained.
"Like what you are doing and what we can see. We have already made two strong comebacks in the second half. I liked how we played there with intensity, and also having more connect inside the team.
"Also the way we attack, sometimes through crosses, sometimes combinations between and behind, and for me the identity has to be even stronger and clearer so we can do things more often and more consistently.
"Same in the defence, how we defend. So that's the thing, the team is growing.
"It's not only the starting point on Monday, we need to prepare to win that game, but it's clear that we also have to do more and be stronger in some parts.
"We just need to keep working and the thing with the cup games was we found ways to win the games, but also we saw that we can't do everything right directly.
"The way we pressed when we were good, was good, the way we attack in some parts was also really good, and the transitions were starting to come. I think the speed of transition has been getting better and better.
"So, we have to keep the track there, and then maybe add some parts during the season."
