Dons do homework for Macedonian test

Aberdeen, like St Johnstone, were also handed a long journey in the first round of the Europa League qualifiers.

The Dons will face Macedonian side Shkendija with the winners taking on Rijeka of Croatia in the second round.

Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes felt their opponents were the toughest in their section of the draw.

McInnes, whose club await details of the schedule, added: “They are a decent team. They finished the season very strongly.

“They have qualified for Europe over the past couple of seasons.

“We have watched some clips of them already.

“My first impressions of them are that they are a team who want to play. They have got good technical players.

“The majority of their team is made up of Macedonians. They have also got a couple of Brazilians in there and a few other nationalities.

“We know that it will be a bit of a journey and it will be pretty hot down there.

“The reason you are in Europe is to play against different opposition, different styles and experience different cultures.

“As it stands the first leg is away from home and that is fine and we are adjusting our schedule.

“The important thing between now and then is making sure we are ready and also we know everything we need to know about them.

“We have a tough match and we need to make sure we are ready. They have already played a couple of pre-season friendlies so they are ahead of us. We did play a closed doors game yesterday.”

The Dons are preparing at a training camp in St Andrews this week before tomorrow night’s game with Brechin City at Glebe Park and a match with fellow Europa League hopes St Johnstone on Sunday at the same venue.

Picture: SNS. Derek McInnes took time out to relax on the Swilcan Bridge with the Open’s Claret Jug.