Dons boss laments failure to sign Christie

DEREK McInnes has bemoaned not managing to sign Ryan Christie from Celtic, as he expressed frustration with his forwards’ shortcomings ahead of the Ladbrokes Premiership fixture against Livingston at Pittodrie tonight.

Seventeen goals from 15 games is not the kind of statistic to underline the Dons as contenders for a top-three finish and a continuation of their Europa League exploits.

And Stevie May, Sam Cosgrove and James Wilson, on a season-long loan from Manchester United, have all failed this season in front of goal with just five between them in Premiership action.

Ryan Christie had spent 18 months on loan at Pittodrie, but efforts to persuade Celtic to part with him in the summer and to attract others to fill the scoring void proved fruitless.

“We tried hard to get Ryan Christie,” he said. “We never got the striker we wanted in the summer window. We tried for five or six different strikers and the money wasn’t enough. So, you have to work with the ones you’ve got.

“James has had a wee knock since the Motherwell game, but I went with Cosgrove for the two games in Glasgow because I felt that was the right way to go.

“Sam did very well. We had a decision to make on Saturday against St Johnstone [Aberdeen lost 2-0] with who came in. James missed out on the games in Glasgow because I went with a different type of striker.

“They’ve had enough game-time to show their qualities.”

Cosgrove, who missed Saturday’s game through suspension, will return for tonight’s clash.