THE future looks bright for Aberdeen.

Derek McInnes wants to keep it that way. Having constructed the squad that last season delivered the club's first major trophy for 19 years, the Aberdeen manager is hopeful it will become a group that continues to grow in strength and stature as they pursue further honours, rather than been gradually picked apart. To that end he has welcomed the addition this week of Donervorn Daniels on loan from West Bromwich Albion and the pre-contract agreement with Graeme Shinnie from Inverness Caledonian Thistle, and is hopeful the club's firm financial footing will allow them to ward off any bids for Ryan Jack, a supposed target for a number of Serie A clubs, and any others that may have caught the eye of visiting scouts.

"The chairman and myself are trying to build something here and not break it up," he said at Hampden yesterday. "We have had to endure a long time of not having success and debt hanging over the club. Now we have at least a team we can be proud of on the pitch and we are debt free. There are a lot of positives at the club and we want that to continue rather than disrupt what we are trying to do."

Daniels, a centre-back who can also play at full-back or in midfield, could be pitched in for his debut in Saturday's League Cup semi-final against Dundee United. Having done similar with Shay Logan a year ago when he started the full-back in the last-four tie against St Johnstone at Tynecastle, McInnes would have no qualms about making a similar call regarding the 21 year-old from Montserrat.

"Donervorn last played on Boxing Day with Blackpool," said the manager. "You'd obvious like him to have had some more games but he has been training and is ready. Shay is a good example. He had even less preparation as he arrived and had one day's training and went straight into the semi-final.

"This game takes care of itself. Even when Donervorn was at the hotel on Sunday we were giving him copies of our reports on Dundee United for the game. We showed him copies of recent games with United and some clips as well. So even though he wasn't training with us he was still getting a handle on what to expect."

McInnes does not expect to sign Shinnie in what remains of this window but is looking forward to working with the full-back come the summer. "I know I have not commented on Shinnie but we have got to be respectful as he is still an Inverness player," he added. "I'm not expecting Graeme to be here during this window. We tried to get him last summer and that wasn't possible. Now we have him for next summer and we will just be patient and look forward to having him here. He is a player joining a good team and hopefully we can help him develop as a player."

McInnes hopes Jack will still be an Aberdeen player by that point. "I know Ryan is getting a lot of spotlight put on him in recent weeks - and rightly so - but his performances have been no different to last season," he added.

"He is not the kind of player who always lights up games but people who know football will understand why he is so important to me. He is pivotal to what we do. I trust him in possession and not in possession. He trains right every single day and is a top professional and a top player.

"He will go on to have a top, top career but we are just really enjoying working with him. He is important to us and our bid to be successful. I have no doubt the players I have here have been mentioned in lots of different places. It would be naive not to think that's the case."

The first meeting between Celtic and Rangers in three years has somewhat overshadowed the first semi-final but McInnes is not overly perturbed. Having won the trophy last season, there is a desire to at least go on and reach the final once more.

"I am not really bother with what is happening on Sunday. This is a brilliant game from our point of view. It's great to be involved in it.

"This is our third semi-final in a row and we want to make the most of it as we have been involved in both scenarios, winning one and losing the other. I think that experience will help us. The motivation is clearly there for both teams.

"With the support we will have behind us and the players we have on the pitch I am always confident we can get a result."