Dons midfielder joins Cove on loan

Cove Rangers manager Paul Hartley hopes Chris Antoniazzi’s arrival at Balmoral Stadium can be the start of a fruitful relationship between the SPFL newcomers and Aberdeen.

The 19-year-old attacking midfielder, pictured, has joined the Highland League champions on a loan deal until January.

Hartley said: “I would like to thank Derek McInnes and Aberdeen for agreeing to allow Chris to join us.

“I’m sure Chris will prove to be an asset during his time with us and I’m confident playing in League 2 with Cove will be good for his development as a player.

“Hopefully he will be only the first of many good players we can bring in on loan thanks to the good relationship Cove have with Aberdeen.”

Antoniazzi is a Scottish youth international who came through the SFA Performance School at Hazlehead Academy.

He signed for Celtic after leaving school but returned to the Dons in 2017. The highly-rated youngster made his first team debut for Aberdeen that year, against FC Bunyodkor at the club’s winter training camp in Dubai.

A regular at Under-17 and Under-20 level since arriving at Pittodrie, he also spent last season on loan to League 1 Montrose and helped them reach the promotion play-offs.

Meanwhile, Connor Scully’s injury in Tuesday’s Betfred Cup match against Caley Thistle is not as bad as first feared.

Scully was stretchered off in the 3-2 defeat by Inverness with a suspected broken ankle but has suffered bruising to his ligaments.

Hartley hopes to have the player available for the club’s second game in League 2 at Albion Rovers on August 10.