The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Defender Bates tells opponents new-style Dons are on the rise
Defender David Bates has warned Premiership rivals there is far more to come from Aberdeen in 2022.
The Dons secured four wins from five fixtures in December to finish 2021 in the top six.
Bates reckons a squad restructured by boss Stephen Glass last summer is finally beginning to gel.
The Scotland international is confident the Reds can kick off the new year on an upwards trajectory when facing Rangers on Tuesday.
Aberdeen face the league leaders in their first game of 2022.
That rescheduled Rangers showdown will take place in front of an unrestricted Pittodrie crowd.
The Scottish Government confirmed a recent cap of 500 fans for outdoor sporting events will end on Monday.
Bates said: “I know there is definitely more to come from myself and the team.
“For a while the team wasn’t playing so well and I knew I could do better in games.
“However, we are starting to play a lot better as a team.
“Personally, I feel I have came on to my game a little bit although I can definitely still do better.
“I still think there’s more to come from us all, including myself.
“I’m just happy I’m helping the team get good results on the pitch and we are playing a lot better.”
In recent months the defender has impressed defensively and also netted in the 2-0 defeat of Livingston – his first goal for the Dons.
Aberdeen also suffered a defensive injury crisis that has only recently eased.
Teenage right-back Calvin Ramsay was ruled out for two months with a thigh injury.
The 18-year-old, who is being tracked by a host of Premier League and European clubs weighing up a January swoop, returned to action in the 2-1 Boxing Day defeat of Dundee.
Left-back Jack MacKenzie was also ruled out for almost two months with an ankle injury suffered in training in October.
MacKenzie, 21, has been an unused substitute in recent games.
Scotland international centre-back Declan Gallagher was sidelined for two months with a hamstring injury but returned to action last month.
Andy Considine remains out long-term. Winger Matty Kennedy is also set to end eight months of injury hell as he will be in contention for selection against Rangers.
Northern Ireland international Kennedy has been sidelined all season with a back problem.
Glass confirmed Kennedy is fit and available for selection against the league leaders on Tuesday.
The litany of defensive injuries forced Glass to change personnel and formations.
Captain Scott Brown, a midfielder, dropped into the centre of a back three during that injury crisis.
With some of the defenders now back fit Glass has more consistency of selection and has been able to revert to a back four.
It has all helped Bates, and the Dons, rediscover form.
Bates said: “It has been different as I had been chopping and changing (clubs) the last couple of seasons.
“Sometimes it takes a while to get used to a style again. A different style, different players and how everyone plays around you.
“It was a case of us all trying to get used to that.
“We have, which is why recently we have ended up with good results.
“We have players who have played a lot with each other this season and we are getting used to each other.”
Former Rangers defender Bates has been capped four times for Scotland.
His last cap was when starting in a 2-0 away defeat of San Marino in a Euro 2020 qualifier in March 2019.
Bates has not featured in recent squads under national boss Steve Clarke.
For now the defender’s sole focus is on helping Aberdeen, currently sixth, move higher up the Premiership table.
Anything else, such as a Scotland recall, is a welcome bonus.
On hopes of a Scotland recall, he said: “I’m just really focusing on Aberdeen.”