Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin has provided an explanation for Bojan Miovski's absence from the team's recent Premier Sports Cup clash with Queen of the South.
Thelin revealed that the decision was made following a "good chat" with the striker, amid growing speculation surrounding his future.
Reports across the continent suggest that Italian Serie A club, Bologna, are ramping up their interest in the Dons' star player, with Dutch talisman, Joshua Zirkzee, set to depart for Manchester United this summer.
There is reportedly increasing interest from across Europe in the North Macedonia international, and questions have been raised about his long-term future at Pittodrie.
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Despite the fact that Miovski still has two years remaining on his contract with Aberdeen, Thelin admitted that after discussions about the player's current predicament, he opted to leave the proven goal scorer out of the team's opening Premier Sports Cup match in Dumfries.
The decision to exclude Miovski from the lineup has only served to escalate the uncertainty surrounding his position in the north-east dressing room, as the Dons navigate the ongoing speculation and interest in their prized asset.
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“We had a good chat with him, there is a lot of things going around right now,” the Aberdeen boss told Premier Sports following a 3-0 victory.
“I had a good chat with him yesterday and we decided he should not play this game and keep working next week together."
Disciplinary action has also been taken against Luis 'Duk' Lopes amid speculation about his future.
The Cape Verde international, who had endeared himself to the Red Army during his first season at Pittodrie, missed the Dons’ pre-season trip to Portugal due to a medical issue, but has since failed to return to the club's training facility at Cormack Park.
With the tricky forward seemingly on his way out, manager Thelin was questioned about the situation, to which he simply replied: "No, sorry, I can't comment on that."
