NO PANIC BUYS FOR McINNES

DEREK McINNES refused to be rushed into signing a striker for the glamour Battle of Britain tie with Burnley and insists it’s more important to get the right frontman in.

The Aberdeen boss, right, endured a BY GAVIN BERRY frustrating search to boost his attacking options ahead of tonight’s first-leg qualifier with the Clarets at Pittodrie. McInnes, who lost

Adam Rooney to Salford last week, failed in a bid to land Eoin Doyle with the Irishman looking to fight for his place at Preston and Deepdale team-mate Louis Moult’s wages are too high to agree a loan.

The Dons boss had until 11pm last night to make two changes to their Euro squad with Watford defender Tommie Hoban registered after signing on a season-long loan along with back-up keeper Tomas Cerny who joined him at the Reds.

McInnes said: “As much as I would love to have all my signings in before this very important tie, I can’t make the wrong signing just because it’s Burnley.

“It’s up to us to find the right signing. It’s a long season. In an ideal world you would have everything done. But an ideal world would mean having loads of cash to spend and you would just go out and get someone.

“It is difficult to get players in key positions. We don’t have a lot of money to throw at it but what we do have we will use wisely.”

McInnes signed former Partick Thistle No.1 Cerny after an injury to youngster David Craddock and defender Hoban could be in line for a debut tonight.

The Dons boss said: “We have reacted to the goalkeeper situation and got Tomas in and Tommie is a player we have been keen on for the last few weeks.

“He was away with Watford and played in their pre-season games and is someone his club has a high regard for.”

Meanwhile, Aberdeen defender Mark Reynolds went under the knife for a knee op in Glasgow yesterday and faces a lengthy spell out.