Doc: Dubai trip a timely tonic for tired Dons
ABERDEEN No.2 Tony Docherty insists their warm-weather training camp in Dubai is no jolly.
But he’s backing the Reds to recharge their batteries after a draining first half of the campaign that started back in early July with Europa League qualifiers.
And Docherty believes the work they do on the training ground in the Emirates sun will leave the Dons ready to shine when they return to action with a Scottish Cup clash against St Mirren.
It’s the second year in a row that Aberdeen have headed to Dubai during the winter break.
The trip helped them push on last season and the Pittodrie assistant expects a similar boost this time.
Docherty said: “It is not a jolly in Dubai, it is very much a training camp to focus on the latter part of the season.
“The winter break is going to be beneficial. We saw that last year. It was pivotal to our end to the season.
“It is important the boys get a rest. They haven’t had much time off since the start of the Europa League.
“The training camp really focuses us on the latter part of the season.
“It was when we emerged from the winter break that we really hit a positive run of form last year. We will be looking to do that again.”
The Dons have brought back winger Niall McGinn from South Korean club Gwangju while midfielder Greg Tansey has been loaned out to Ross County.
There could be further changes to the squad this month and boss Derek McInnes also wants to tie down defender Anthony O’Connor on a new deal while they’re in Dubai.
Dons will round off their trip with a closed-doors game against Uzbek champions Lokomotiv Tashkent on Sunday.
And Docherty hopes it will sharpen them up for the Cup clash with the Buddies a week on Saturday.
He said: “It is important it is not just a training camp, we want the game at the end of it. We are coming straight back to a cup match which will be a tricky tie against a good St Mirren team.”