Dons are unknown quantity right now due to selection doubts over ‘Aberdeen eight’

St Johnstone should have welcomed Aberdeen to Mcdiarmid Park two weekends ago.

Instead, the Perth side were left kicking their heels after eight Dons players hit the town.

In the days since, Saints have turned in a creditable performance at Ibrox and claimed their first win of the season at Kilmarnock.

They will look to carry their momentum into tonight’s meeting with former Mcdiarmid boss Derek Mcinnes’s Dons. But what sort of opposition will Aberdeen offer – and will their own time in limbo be a factor?

System

For most of Derek Mcinnes’ reign at Pittodrie, the Dons have been a 4-2-3-1 team. That was certainly the case while they were riding highest, racking up second placed Premiership finishes, winning the League Cup and reaching semifinals and finals of the Scottish Cup.

Over the last two seasons, changes in personnel have meant changes in system, with the Dons boss attempting to find the sort of defensive strength and attacking fluidity that characterised his first few seasons in charge.

Last term, the 4-2-3-1 was there at times, but there was a 4-4-2, a 4-14-1, a 4-3-3…in short, it was a horses for courses situation.

This season, against Rangers, the Dons were effectively pushed into a deep 4-5-1, with Bruce Anderson ploughing a lone – and pretty thankless – furrow up front.

They are unlikely to find themselves similarly pegged back in Perth and, if Callum Davidson sticks with the system he appears to favour this season, in which Ali Mccann and Liam Craig occupy the middle of the park, Aberdeen’s shape may be influenced by a desire to claim a central numerical advantage.

Strengths

Given the range of unknowns surrounding Aberdeen at present, it’s tough to define the specific threats they may carry.

Whom of the “Aberdeen eight” will be available for selection? Are any of them even fit enough to be considered? What is the condition of the two players who tested positive for Covid-19? Are one or two of the errant group more firmly in the doghouse than others? Really, the proof will be in the pudding.

For Saints boss Callum Davidson, tailoring an opponent-specific approach must have been an absolute nightmare this week.

What we do know about the Dons is: Andy Considine is suspended, last season’s top scorer Sam Cosgrove is out with a long-term injury, as is Mikey Devlin, and Niall Mcginn – if fit – is as close to a sure-fire starter as it’s possible for a player to be.

If he is on his game, he will be a weapon the Dons will look to utilise, while, in goal, Joe Lewis is a rock.

Beyond that, the Dons are a mystery.

Weaknesses

Again, without knowing who is available for selection – and with only one poor performance to draw on as evidence – pinpointing areas of vulnerability looks tricky, bar their lack of numbers up top.

However, after 19 days without a match, the Dons now face a tricky run of four games in 10 days, including a European qualifier.

Given the need to get players – who have missed two Premiership games – up to match fitness, it seems likely that Derek Mcinnes is forced to involve players at Mcdiarmid Park who are not at the level of sharpness he would like them to be.

With those players who were forced to self-isolate being restricted in the work they have been able to do – Mcinnes spoke of them using treadmills and exercise bikes at home – their preparation for visiting Perth has been far from ideal.

If Saints can find a way to stretch the game safely, they could gain an advantage as the minutes tick by.

Aberdeen eight

Outside Pittodrie, Scottish football was pretty much united in criticism of the “Aberdeen eight”.

The players concerned were also admonished publicly by their manager for visiting a city centre bar after the Dons’ opening day defeat to Rangers, and chairman Dave Cormack expressed his personal disappointment.

But while Aberdeen’s two most prominent public-facing staff had little choice but to offer a view, there have been no leaks about how the situation was greeted and dealt with in the Aberdeen dressing room.

Have the seeds of discontent been sown? Or has a siege mentality been built? Either way, the evidence will quickly become apparent.

If it is the former – if the band of brothers mind-set that fuels all strong squads has been poisoned – the Dons will be weakened for it.

But if Derek Mcinnes and his senior players have used the barrage of criticism aimed the club’s way to strengthen the Pittodrie bond, Aberdeen could well be a fiery proposition in the weeks and months to come.

Danger man

It speaks volumes that Derek Mcinnes – who is normally very guarded about his transfer business – has gone public with his desire to sign a striker.

That said, it’s hardly a shock that they are in the market.

With Sam Cosgrove sidelined, Curtis Main recovering from an operation and Bruce Anderson among the Aberdeen eight – and thus forced into self-isolation – the Dons look very light up top.

So, in the absence of a properly blooded hitman, who will St Johnstone be most wary of?

If Matty Kennedy plays – and as one of the Aberdeen eight, that is up in the air – the Perth side will know only too well what he is capable of.

Similarly Jonny Hayes and Lewis Ferguson – another two whose attributes on the park are well known.

However, Niall Mcginn looks a stick-on starter if he is fit and he will be a man Saints will need to keep close tabs on in the final third.

His ability with a dead ball also means giving away silly free kicks around the box – as they were punished for by Rangers at Ibrox – would be a dangerous game.

Key Dons players Niall Mcginn, top, and Matty Kennedy.