FOOTBALL Del full of praise for the Dons’ battling skipper
DEREK McINNES reckons Graeme Shinnie’s fight against a career-threatening medical condition has actually contributed to making him an inspirational Aberdeen captain.
The Dons manager was full of praise for his skipper’s contribution to their 2-1 Europa League victory over Apollon last Thursday, and not just for his stunning late winner.
He’s convinced Shinnie is the complete modern midfielder, despite having to cope with the effects of Crohn’s disease since 2011.
That’s when he spent five months out of football – following four weeks in hospital – after a seven-hour operation for the intestinal problem.
It’s something the former Inverness Caley Thistle star still has to live with, but his manager believes Shinnie’s response has been positive for his life and career.
McInnes said: “It’s something that is always there and something he needs to keep in check, as he constantly goes back to Inverness to see the specialist to make sure everything is as it should be.
“That’s probably part of why he is the player that he is, as it did threaten to stop him playing at one point.
“When you have that threat of not being able to play football – and it maybe getting taken away from you – it makes you appreciate what you’ve got.
“He quite simply couldn’t give any more to his career. He sacrifices everything for the game and he will get his reward for that.
“Everyone plays in a different manner but Shinnie can do a bit of everything, as he showed against the Cypriot side.
“He outjumps guys who are over six feet and he crunches into tackles, as well as having great quality. He is someone who everyone here looks up to.
“He scored a great goal. But he knows, if he is going to play in that area, he has to get more goals and he is keen to do that.”
McInnes hopes to have Adam Rooney available for the return leg in the AEK Stadium in Larnaca on Thursday after missing the first game with a hamstring strain.
Apollon will be without Esteban Sachetti after two terrible challenges saw him deservedly sent off in a bruising first leg.
McInnes is determined his men won’t respond in the return, and added: “We have got to have that element of control and self-restraint at the right times.
“Discipline can have a big bearing on the result, but I’m glad that we are going over there with a lead in the tie.
“Of course, that can quickly change, because if they get a goal then the onus is on us to go and score.
“But if we score first then the pressure is on them to get two just to go to extra time, so I like the ebb and flow of how it can go.
“There will be a fine line about getting through. But I’m confident we will produce a performance that will take us into the next round.”