Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
McLean: Missing the semi won’t hurt my mates
ABERDEEN midfielder Kenny McLean claims his Hampden suspension is only a problem for him and not the team.
McLean set up one and scored the other as Aberdeen beat Motherwell 2-0 on Tuesday night to go three points clear of Rangers in second place in the Ladbrokes Premiership.
McLean, fellow midfielder Graeme Shinnie and right-back Shay Logan will all miss Aberdeen’s next meeting with Motherwell in the William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final on April 14.
But the Scotland international is confident there is enough strength in depth in the Pittodrie squad.
McLean said: “I think when we play like that we give ourselves a great chance against anybody.
“We’ve got plenty of quality to come in, we have a couple missing for the semi-final but I don’t think that will be an issue.
“I think the issue will be me trying to get my place back after the semifinal. It will be tough to get back in the team.”
Dons boss Derek McInnes does not believe Tuesday’s win will have any bearing on the semi-final. Both teams have now beaten each other twice this season.
“I don’t think we can take anything from it because it was Motherwell,” McInnes said. “Regardless of who we were playing, the performance was good.
“The two teams will be totally different because they will be missing Carl McHugh, their captain, we’re going to be missing my captain and Kenny McLean and Shay Logan. So my team will be entirely different.
“But it’s just good to win a game and get another clean sheet. We are in good form, I am pleased with what the players are giving us.”