The Aberdeen boss also confirms return of three players.
16:41, 21 Nov 2025Updated 16:41, 21 Nov 2025
Aberdeen’s Leighton Clarkson walks on the pitch after AEK score the fifth goal against his team during the Conference League opening phase soccer match between AEK Athens and Aberdeen in Athens, Greece, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
Jimmy Thelin has insisted Leighton Clarkson still has a part to play at Aberdeen.
The playmaker has been linked with a possible move away from Pittodrie in the upcoming January window.
Thelin admitted the ex-Liverpool midfielder hasn’t featured as regularly as he has had to change his system, going to three at the back to shore up his backline.
Thelin insisted: “I am not going to speculate about players.
“Every window has their story but as long as the players are here we focus on them and try to do the best we can with them and try to help them in the best way possible to take the steps.
“Every player has their qualities and he has had a lot of good games for us.
“But in some moment when we change the system and try to find another balance.
“It is always too early to say players will not play more and these kinds of things. Find the rhythm.
“Some players before the break are showing much more after the break. In my experience during a season some players will develop, evolve and adapt to a new system and new way of playing.
“If they take the challenge of the competition and if they do that they will always grow and perform better.”
Competition within the Aberdeen squad has intensified this week with Ante Palaversa, Sivert Nilsen and Alfie Dorrington all returning from injury.
Thelin confirmed: “The training sessions this week have been really good and the players feel they are coming together more and more as a team.
“More players are back from injuries, everyone except Tobers was in the sessions this week so a lot of positive things.
“Sivert, Alfie, everyone is back in training.
“They are training really well but it is the first week for them so we have to be careful so that we don’t get any setbacks.
“We will need everyone in such an intense schedule we have in front of us.
“Especially ahead of a really challenging time as we have 12 games in six weeks so it is really good everyone is looking sharp.
“First of all we start with the game at Pittodrie.”
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Aberdeen look to end Hearts’ unbeaten Premiership start.
The Swede acknowledged: “With our home form we have to show more there and this is a big opportunity for us to show we are on the right track and progressing.
“They have done really well as they have the points and have been consistent.
“Our focus is on our way, what we want to do and improvements we have to make.
“It is important for us to take points against them at home to show we are a good team.
“We have a strong belief in the season, even in the really tough times.
“Still we are in a difficult situation but we have to feel like we are taking it step by step.
“We have a strong belief that we can fight for a strong end to the season.
“In the early games we had zero points but now we have taken 10 points from the last five games.
“Now we want to grow as a team and develop some parts of our game to try to be more like ourselves in the future.”
Elsewhere former Aberdeen star Niall McGinn has backed his old team to beat Hearts at the weekend.