DEVLIN IS IN THE DETAIL

ABERDEEN DEL WANTS BACK-UP

DEREK McINNES still wants to strengthen his defence but knows signing Hamilton’s crocked captain Michael Devlin in January was a significant step towards that aim.

The Aberdeen manager was gutted when Jason Naismith preferred a switch to Peterborough to a move to Pittodrie earlier in the summer.

That’s left him still looking to add a full-back before next month’s Europa League clash with English Premier League side Burnley.

But forward planning means McInnes is much happier with the situation in central defence despite the departures of Anthony O’Connor and Kari Arnason.

He added Devlin during the last transfer window even though the player was just halfway through his rehabilitation from a serious knee injury.

Now the stopper, who hasn’t played since doing the damage in a 4-0 win against Dundee in May last year, is ready to make his comeback.

And the Dons boss is excited at the prospect of pairing Devlin alongside emerging Scotland star Scott McKenna. McInnes said: Republic of Ireland this morning for a training camp in Cork that Europa League opponents Burnley will use the following week.

Recent additions Lewis Ferguson, Stephen Gleeson and Chris Forrester are in the squad but all three new signings are midfielders.

That’s why McInnes is making the addition of a defender the immediate priority to increase competition for Shay Logan and Andrew Considine in the full-back areas in particular.

And while the Aberdeen manager doesn’t have a massive budget available he has vowed to use every penny to keep the pressure on Rangers for second place.

He added: “We’re light at the back so we need to get another defender in. That’s probably the area we’re concentrating on at the minute.

“If you can’t always bring something better, bring something different to the team. That’s what we’ll try to do.

“Hopefully we’ll utilise the budget we’ve got and spend what we’ve got. I’m not going to leave anything.

“If there’s a budget there to spend we’re going to try to spend it and get the best level of players in.”