McInnes begs Board not to sell star striker
Derek McInnes last night revealed he has urged the Aberdeen board not to cash in on Sam Cosgrove next month.
Cosgrove bagged his 19th goal of the season to clinch the Dons’ win over Hamilton Accies yesterday.
It was the 40th strike of a 14-month hot streak that has attracted interest from the likes of Stoke City and Middlesbrough.
But his manager is hopeful incoming Pittodrie chairman Dave Cormack will not be tempted to sell when the transfer window opens.
“I’m hoping we don’t lose him,” said McInnes.
“I don’t think it would be in our best interest to lose our best goal scorer. But I’m not naïve enough to think teams aren’t looking at him.
“Sam will move on at some point, but midway through the season wouldn’t be of any benefit to us.”
Asked whether he had talked to his new chairman, who is set to officially take over from Stewart Milne tomorrow night at Aberdeen’s AGM, on the subject of Cosgrove, McInnes answered in the affirmative.
“We’re all on the same page,” he said.
“We know where we are. We know we’re a club that wants to improve.
“We’ve been given encouragement we can do something in January in certain positions. But we’re aware that we’re a club that develops players and then sells them.
“It’s important we hang on to those players for as long as possible. Everybody, our new chairman, supporters and staff want to give ourselves the best chance possible.”
Cosgrove’s strike was enough to lift Aberdeen back up to third in the table.
For McInnes, there is an obvious comparison to be made between his current top scorer and a previous star.
“Over my first few years at the club, we had loads of games where Adam Rooney was finishing off our good work,” he said.
“We saw enough in Sam as the one to maybe replace Adam.
“We had a lot of games where it was 1-0 and Adam Rooney scored. We had games where we won by three or four but that was our bread and butter.
“Sam has become the guy that, even we’re not at our best, scores goals.”
Brian Rice, meanwhile, lamented the lack of such players at his disposal as his side hit the bottom of the Premiership.
“It’s similar to the games against Rangers and Celtic,” said the Hamilton boss
“It was the same again. We stayed in the game until half time and lost a sloppy goal.
“We kept going to the end. I feel for the boys in the changing room. We can’t get a break.”