Derek McInnes, the Aberdeen manager, has confirmed that captain Ryan Jack will be leaving Pittodrie this summer, but he is in the dark over the 25-year-old’s future plans.
Jack’s contract winds down at the end of the season, and Rangers manager Pedro Caixinha has gone on record with his admiration for the player. Despite reports to the contrary this week though, Dons manager McInnes says that Rangers, or any other club, have yet to make an official approach for the midfielder.
McInnes conceded though that he might not actually be fully in the loop when it comes to his skipper’s future plans.
He said: “Others seem to know more than I do, if what I’m hearing is true, but Ryan has now informed us it’s his intention to move on from Aberdeen. He’s informed me of that in the last couple of days.
“But there has been no official approach from any club with regards speaking to Ryan. But if he’s moving on, as it looks likely now that Ryan has told me that, where he ends up I do not know.
“We’re disappointed but we have prepared ourselves to try and deal with losing some good players and I’m confident we will get good players in.”
Despite Jack making it clear that his future lies elsewhere, he will still be part of Aberdeen’s plans should he win his race for fitness in time for the Scottish Cup Final on May 27.
Jack has been sidelined with a minor groin tear sustained in training earlier this month, but both he and Peter Pawlett, who has signed a pre-contract agreement with English Championship side MK Dons, could feature against Partick Thistle in the final league match of Aberdeen’s season at Partick Thistle tomorrow afternoon.
“Both may travel but both may not, we will just see how they react,” McInnes said. “I’d be keen to get both those players some minutes if possible.”
The Dons had effectively sealed second spot before their midweek win over Rangers but McInnes is keen to better their 75-point haul of two seasons ago, which was a record for a club outside the Old Firm.
“We want to finish with a positive result,” McInnes said. “More importantly than anything is we come through the game without any injuries. That’s the priority and that’s the message for the players, it’s all about trying to peak for the cup final.
“It’s not so much resting players. We will look at players who are maybe on the cusp of suspension for next season, we will look at players who need minutes so it gives me options for the cup final.
“But whatever team is picked, whether it’s one or two younger boys who are playing, the emphasis is on winning the game.
“It’s not the most important game and I can’t say otherwise, the most important game is the cup final, but it would be nice for us to finish on 76 points and break our own record. And the only way we can do that is by winning.”
Partick Thistle assistant manager Scott Paterson meanwhile wants his own players to sign off a successful overall season on a high after some disappointing results since making the top six, culminating in a five-nil humbling at the hands of Celtic on Thursday night.
“Sunday is a big game,” Paterson said. “We have had a great season and we don’t want it to end all doom and gloom. We want to give the fans something to shout about.
“There is no denying we are disappointed with the results after the split. We played well against Hearts and for 80 minutes against Rangers, but we only have one point.
“Maybe it’s been a step too far mentally but we’ve said to the players that we need to keep going. The season isn’t finished.
“We are a good team, but we need to show a bit more than we did against Celtic on Sunday.”
Paterson was particularly disappointed in the poor start that Thistle made to the Celtic game, and he has warned against a repeat performance tomorrow afternoon.
He said: “Against teams like Celtic and Aberdeen, you need to stay in it for the first 15 to 20 minutes and let it die down. Then you take it from there, but on Thursday they found their rhythm immediately and we couldn’t cope with it.
“It will be the same message against Aberdeen - we must start well. to have any chance.
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