Quitongo threat is clear to Dons
MANY is the time a rejected striker has come back to knock his former club out of a cup competition. How dearly Derek McInnes is hoping it doesn’t happen at Hampden tomorrow when Jai Quitongo, a youngster he previously released, squares up to Aberdeen with new club Morton in the Betfred League Cup semi-final.
The 19-year-old, son of former Hearts and Hamilton star Jose, admitted in an exclusive interview with Sportsmail recently that he became so disillusioned during his short, unproductive spell in the Granite City that he contemplated giving up the game altogether.
The youngster blames himself for failing to impress McInnes, but now he is flourishing under the guidance of Jim Duffy at Cappielow and is banging in the goals for the Championship club.
So much so that the Greenock outfit rejected a £100,000 transfer deadline-day bid from Doncaster Rovers for Quitongo, who has scored six goals for Morton this season, including four in the Betfred Cup in victories against Hamilton Accies, Kilmarnock and Dundee United.
McInnes is delighted that the youngster (below) has seized his opportunity to impress in the second tier but hopes his goals dry up when the teams meet in Glasgow at lunchtime tomorrow.
The Aberdeen manager said: ‘At the time, he had probably not done enough for us to go to war and keep him. I think he had confidence and pace but he was only with us for a couple of months.
‘It can be very difficult at times for younger ones, in particular, to come away from the family home to maybe staying in digs up in Aberdeen.
‘For one reason or another some people can settle quicker than others and I think he had one eye on just trying to get home.
‘I think it’s a good story really because some younger ones are maybe not sure whether to stay full-time, and I think he’s done exceptionally well.
‘As bizarre as it seems, I’m really pleased for him and I just hope that he’s quiet enough on Saturday. But I’ve no doubt, having watched a lot of Morton’s games, that he’s definitely got potential.’
The Pittodrie club made it clear after the semi-final draw was made that they were unhappy their tie is being staged in Glasgow with a 12.15pm kick off.
They feel it is unfair their supporters have to travel so far for such an early kick-off and that’s been reflected in the ticket sales as the Dons expect to take just over 10,000 to the national stadium.
McInnes feels there would have been a much better atmosphere if the tie had taken place elsewhere instead of Hampden but the Aberdeen boss insists that it won’t affect his team’s performance.
He added: ‘I need to be honest here, we could play that game in the car park, anywhere, it doesn’t matter where the game is. But I think it could have been maximised better for the fans and had more atmosphere at a full house somewhere.
‘I think the attendance will reinforce what I’m saying and I don’t think we did the right thing, but I’m not complaining.’
Tickets for tomorrow’s semi-final are still available and can be purchased through respective club channels.