Glass grateful for time to take stock

Aberdeen boss Stephen Glass has confirmed he will use the international break to fully integrate his recent signings into his squad.

After a hectic start to the campaign – where the Reds were competing in both Europe and domestically – there is finally chance to take stock, and a breather.

Glass revealed he has had little time to work with his squad in training sessions at Cormack Park since the season began on July 22.

The Dons had been in a continuous loop of European action on Thursday, recovery and then domestic action on a Sunday – then repeat.

Glass wanted that gruelling cycle to continue with qualification for the group stages of the Europa Conference League.

However, the Euro campaign was brutally ended by Qarabag as the Azerbaijani outfit progressed from the play-offs 4-1 on aggregate.

Glass will use the near two-week window afforded by the international break to gel his team and get them firing on all cylinders.

They will have to because Aberdeen entered the break on the back of a fivegame run without victory following the 1-1 draw with Ross County.

Glass said: “We have not trained in terms of proper sessions since pre-season really because of the amount of European games. Now we have the chance to put that right.

“We have the chance to do it right on the training pitch.”

The international break for World Cup qualifiers is a convenient window for Glass to integrate four recent signings into his new-look squad.

Loan signings Matty Longstaff and Austin Samuels both made starting debuts in the 1-1 draw with Ross County.

Attacker Marley Watkins also came off the bench in the second half against the Staggies, having recently penned a two-year contract.

Watkins had been signed on a one-month short term deal with Cardiff City.

Despite netting twice in a 3-2 EFL Cup defeat of Sutton United on August 10, Cardiff City boss Mick McCarthy opted not to offer Watkins a deal.

Aberdeen secured the return of the attacker who was so influential on a loan deal from Bristol City last season before a hamstring injury in November.

Watkins knows many of the players and the culture at Pittodrie – he will not need much time to settle in.

Scotland international defender David Bates was also signed on a three-year contract from Bundesliga 2 side Hamburg.

The 24-year-old watched the draw with Ross County from the sidelines as the Dons awaited his international clearance.

Aberdeen had just two fit senior centre-backs prior to the arrival of Bates, capped four times by Scotland.

They are Scotland international Declan Gallagher, currently with Steve Clarke’s squad for the World Cup qualifiers, and Ross McCrorie – utilised in that role this season, having played midfield and right-back last term.

Scotland international Andy Considine is out until the turn of the year having suffered cruciate ligament damage in the 1-0 Europa Conference League play-off first leg loss to Qarabag.

Bates will be in contention to start away to Motherwell on Saturday September 11.

Glass said: “Through the pre-season we were able to work with the team and put in place the way we wanted the group to play.

“It is important that works over the next period of time leading into the Motherwell game and beyond.”

DEBUT: Aberdeen’s Austin Samuels gets a handshake for his efforts on the pitch from manager Stephen Glass.