To say Sam Cosgrove has hit the ground running since Aberdeen kicked-off their season with Europa League ties at home and in Finland and Georgia, would be an understatement.
Eight goals in five games – including the two he hit in the Premiership opener against Hearts on Sunday – has grabbed the attention of bigger clubs south of the border, although Dons manager Derek McInnes insists the powerful striker is going nowhere “this window”.
Ryan Hedges, the scorer of Aberdeen’s dramatic late winner against the Jambos and an instant hit with the Pittodrie fans, will need all his midfield skills in Croatia on Thursday when he and his team-mates tackle HNK Rijeka in the first leg of their Europa League third round qualifier.
But he’s in no doubt that Cosgrove’s form will have their opponents on red alert.
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Aberdeen star Scott McKenna hands in transfer request amid QPR and Celtic interest"You can see in games, and especially in training, what he can do and the goals he can produce,” the 24-year-old former Barnsley player said.
“When you've got players pushing him on, like Curtis Main and Bruce Anderson, it makes him a better player. Eight goals in five games is not a bad return for anybody.
"I think his first goal against Hearts showed the quality that he's got and the pace that he possesses.
“Sometimes you probably would label him as a target man but he's got many more strings in his bow. That's been proven.
"It's not a bad confidence booster to have – if you get the ball to him he's going to score.”
Hedges has spoken to his Wales team-mate Danny Ward, who was part of the Aberdeen side that beat Rijeka four years ago when the goalkeeper was on loan from Liverpool.
The Dons won 3-0 in Croatia and drew 2-2 in the return leg at Pittodrie.
"They're coming in as a third round seed,” Hedges said, “so that's something we need to look at. We know their qualities and we know they're a good team but we've shown we're more than capable of going there and getting something.
"I've spoken to Danny Ward about the last time Aberdeen played there.
Ash Taylor and Andy Considine Rijeka had gone about 40 or 50 games unbeaten at home when they went there and beat them. So, so why can't we do the same?”
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Aberdeen 3 Hearts 2: Sam Cosgrove and Ryan Hedges strike late to secure winHowever, there is the background worry for Aberdeen that bids for Scott McKenna from Queen’s Park Rangers and Nottingham Forest before the close of the English transfer deadline this week, might prove irresistible and that their star defender will not be on the plane to Croatia.
Taylor and Mikey Devlin cannot play because of hamstring injuries which means McInnes may have to produce some extremely inventive thinking to navigate the tie.
"You can see why the quality that Scotty possesses,” Hedges said. “I'm sure if something does happen with Scotty then we're more than capable of dealing with it.
"He's been Scotland captain and that has probably boosted his confidence and his value. He deserves it. Whatever move comes about, if it does come about, he definitely deserves it and he's proved that on the pitch.”
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