GREG LAUDS DONS DEPTH

GREG Stewart believes Aberdeen’s strength in depth can propel them forward.

The attacking midfielder dropped out of the team for the recent 4-1 victory over Hibs, with Gary Mackay-Steven netting a hat-trick in his place.

But Stewart was back in as the Dons fell to what they felt was an unfortunate 3-0 defeat at Celtic Park. And Ryan Christie will return to provide extra competition up front as Aberdeen host Partick Thistle tonight and Stewart feels Derek McInnes’s large squad is an asset.

The on-loan Birmingham player said: “You want to play as many games as you can but we have a big squad here and the gaffer likes to rotate if we have a lot of big games coming up.

“I got dropped against Hibs. Gaz came in and scored a hat-trick. Fair play to him, I was happy for him.

“You want to win silverware at Aberdeen, it’s a big club. There is pressure to win silverware and hopefully we can keep on challenging in the league.” ALAN Power insists the Kilmarnock squad will not get too comfortable despite boss Steve Clarke admitting he will not be splashing out during the January sales.

Kilmarnock are unbeaten in their last five games and manager Clarke hinted his team’s current form is so good he may not have to make any additions when the transfer window opens on Monday.

The Irishman said: “It’s refreshing to hear the manager say that because the whole team has reacted brilliantly to his appointment.

“Now it’s not a case of worrying about whether he is going to change the whole squad around.

“It’s more now us realising we have a great op- portunity here with a great manager leading us.”

But Killie fans will hope his next signing can match the impact made by Youssouf Mulumbu, who was a stand-out in Saturday’s win over Rangers.

Power added: “Getting to learn from somebody like Youssouf can only be good so if someone else comes in the competition will be a bonus.”