Icelandic fairytale can Kari over to Pittodrie
DEREK McINNES reckons Iceland’s World Cup heroics can help Aberdeen freeze out Premiership frontmen – because Kari Arnason will want to impress.
The centre-half earned his 63rd cap last week as a 2-0 win over Kosovo saw them become the smallest country to qualify. Arnason then started five days later as a 1-0 win over Hibs kept the Dons level on points with Celtic at the summit.
Reds boss McInnes said: “Having spoken to Arnie you see how important the celebrations were for their first World Cup.
“It is a fantastic story and something we hope short term we get the benefit of. He came bouncing back into the club feeling good about himself and that is what international football can do. Hopefully long term he has that focus for the World Cup.
“He will want to go into the World Cup in good form and looking to do well in it – and we hope we will get the benefit over the course of the season.”
The 35-year-old returned for a second spell this summer and has helped the Dons to clean sheets in the last three league games.
McInnes added: “When we were losing good international players and others with a good level of experience – Niall McGinn, Jonny Hayes, Ryan Jack and Ash Taylor – I knew we had to try to replace that.
“Any player who has been able to represent their country as often as Arnie has possesses a level of experience that can only benefit any team.”