Dons game set to get go-ahead
Aberdeen’s clash at St Johnstone on Saturday is set to go ahead as planned despite the Granite City being thrust back into lockdown.
A fresh cluster of 54 coronavirus cases has forced First Minister Nicola Sturgeon into ordering a fresh round of restrictions on Aberdeen.
That sparked fears that the new Scottish Premiership season could be thrown into chaos just two weeks in.
But it is understood Scottish football’s Joint Response Group has no immediate concerns over
the situation, with Hampden bosses currently happy for the Dons’ trip to Perth to go ahead.
Premiership clubs have been given an exemption which has allowed them to resume training and playing matches.
Under the terms of that exemption, players and team staff members are operating in a bubble and must undergo twice weekly testing to ensure any fresh outbreaks are swiftly caught and traced.
The latest round of results, released by the JRG on Tuesday, saw 1,274 tests carried out across the 12 Premiership clubs plus Hearts and Glasgow City – with no positive results recorded.
The new measures introduced by the First Minister saw pubs and clubs in Aberdeen ordered to shut as of 5pm on Wednesday, while residents have also been warned against travelling more than five miles.
But Derek Mcinnes’ team will be given the green light to make the 148-mile round trip between Pittodrie and Mcdiarmid Park.
Mcinnes is hoping to see his team get back on track against Saints after kicking off the new campaign with a 1-0 defeat by Rangers at home on Saturday.
Aberdeen are also in action on Wednesday when they host Hamilton and, as things stand, that game is also unaffected.
While the Reds will carry on with their preparations, the youth academy of their women’s side have announced they are postponing training sessions.
They tweeted: “Given today’s announcement by the First Minister relating to Aberdeen and some enforced lockdown restrictions, we feel as a club it would be best to postpone ALL training for the remainder of this week and next. We will keep you updated accordingly.”