Lewis keen to extend Dons stay

● Aberdeen keeper enjoys life at Pittodrie and has no desire to look elsewhere

HAMILTON

V ABERDEEN

made by someone who was once a member of Fabio Capello’s England squad that talks are already underway and there’s no doubt Lewis is keen to comply.

The form of Scotland international David Marshall effectively froze him out at Cardiff City, leading to frustrating loan spells with Blackpool and Fulham, but now he’s back to the level of performance that earned a move to the Welsh club in the first place.

Lewis heads to Hamilton tonight determined to keep his 16th clean sheet of the season to help Aberdeen move 12 points clear of Rangers in second place, then help himself to an extended stay in the Granite City.

“I am enjoying it fantastically here, I have a good relationship with the club and the fans,” he said. “You never know what can happen in the future but I have no desire to look elsewhere. It’s good to know that the club want me to stay, it makes you feel good that the manager obviously thinks you’ve done something right.”

Mcinnes has had less success so far in persuading Ash Taylor, Peter Pawlett, Niall Mcginn and captain Ryan Jack to extend their current contracts beyond the summer but expects movement on that by the middle of next month.

Whatever happens, Lewis has warned Celtic and Rangers that Aberdeen will be an even tougher proposition next season.

He added: “I knew Celtic 0 Joe Lewis: Believes Aberdeen will be stronger next season. would be very strong this season and they have been fantastic but this club has been in second place for the last few seasons so the aim was to kick on with that again. We have been improving throughout this season and the hope is to keep that going and build something special. I think we’re doing that, the lads who have signed on again think that as well. So if we can add to the squad in the summer again then we’ll develop further.”

Jayden Stockley misses out tonight with the shoulder injury but the striker is expected to be fit for Sunday’s Scottish Cup quarter final tie at home to Partick Thistle.

Aberdeen are odds on favourites to make it 11 wins from their last 12 games as Hamilton have won just three times all season in the Premiership. but one of those was against the Dons, in October.

Accies manager Martin Canning does not read too much into Hamilton’s drop to the bottom of the league but accepts the urgent need for wins and knows they could steal a march on rivals who don’t play until tomorrow.

He said: “We have beaten them this season and that goes to show how tight it is.

“If we win before the other teams play we could be a few places up the league so it is still all to play for definitely. Aberdeen are in a good form. We know it is a difficult task, they have a lot of attacking threat but we have beaten them before and so you have to believe that we can do it again.” Clyde host Montrose tonight with assistant manager Bob Malcolm in charge following Barry Ferguson’s resignation.

The club’s board met last night to discuss the way forward and a spokesperson said: “We have only kicked things off in terms of bringing a new manager in. A win would lift everybody after the disappointing run that brought about Barry’s resignation.”

Montrose would move to within five points of an unexpected play-off place if they were to succeed at Broadwood.

Stirling manager Dave Mackay knows that his side’s recent revival will be tested against visitors Elgin. The Forthbank boss said: “Our last three home games have been against sides close to us and we have improved in every one of them. This will be different as Elgin are going for promotion.”

Elgin will look for the same character they displayed in Saturday’s 1-0 win at Berwick.

Cowdenbeath manager Liam Fox is demanding a huge improvement from his bottom-placed team side after Saturday’s 4-1 defeat at Arbroath when they meet Edinburgh City at Central Park.

Fox said: “Saturday was not acceptable. It came nowhere near the standards we are capable of.”

Edinburgh City manager Gary Jardine will be equally desperate to avoid the relegation play-offs.