Neil looks after hard Duk story

geTTing job Don Gaffer Warnock

By ScoTT bURnS NEIL WArNock has had to pick Duk up after he failed to secure his Aberdeen exit last month.

The striker was the Dons’ top scorer with 18 goals last season.

This time around he has failed to hit the heights and been a shadow of the player who wowed Pittodrie.

Duk missed out on cape Verde’s Africa cup of Nations squad and then saw Spanish Second Division leaders Leganes fail in a number of lowball offers before the winter transfer deadline shut.

Boss Warnock said: “He knows he is here now the window is closed.

“He might have had bad advice before I came in. He’s training really well. Have I put an arm around him? I think you have to do that.

“He is a genuine kid and I am sure between now and the end of the season he will score a few goals.”

Bojan Miovski has been the Dons’ main scoring threat but Warnock wants to deploy 23-year-old Duk back as a striker again.

However, he had to switch him out wide in the weekend Scottish cup victory over Bonnyrigg rose.

The Englishman said: “I felt a bit sorry for him on Saturday. I started him up front but I had to change it.

“In fairness to him, he does what I want him to do without moaning.”

Warnock has now assessed the squad he has inherited and believes it is short in some areas.

He refused to go into specifics but the lack of options out wide and in attack seems to be issues.

The veteran gaffer added: “The squad is short in one or two areas. We have to use the players we have to try to get results. I don’t think it is fair to say where publicly when we have lads here who play in that position.

“I would imagine before the end of the season I am sure we will have a discussion with myself and I will be as honest as I can with them.

“To be fair, we have an abundance of midfield players.

“It is other areas where we need bodies. You have a choice when everybody fits in that midfield area.”