JIMMY THELIN'S EARLY ABERDEEN FC ARRIVAL OFF AS RED TAPE SCUPPERS QUICKFIRE ELFSBORG DEPARTURE

Aberdeen don’t expect Jimmy Thelin’s starting date to be accelerated before the end of the current Premiership season.

The Swede is due to leave Elfsborg next month and is scheduled to start at Pittodrie on June 3. Thelin, speaking after the weekend win over Malmo, said he could move earlier if all sides were agreeable. The problem is that Aberdeen need to apply for a visa and that could take up to 10 working days to be issued. Even if they were to apply in the next 24 hours club officials know there would be no guarantee they would have Thelin in for the final-day trip to Dingwall.

Aberdeen travel to Hibs on Sunday, entertain Livingston the following Wednesday and travel to Ross County on May 19. Interim boss Peter Leven, who was rushed into hospital for emergency hip surgery, has been put in charge of Aberdeen for the remainder of the season before he joins Thelin’s backroom staff. Thelin’s television interview in Sweden has got Aberdeen fans excited about his early arrival, although the manager backtracked a bit when he spoke to the written media after the Malmo win.

Thelin initially said: “I think you have to focus on the right things. I understand the question and we had an agreement to make the shift on June 3, but if the conditions change, there are always possibilities around that. But I always complete what I have to do.”

In his later press conference Thelin expanded: “No no. I said it was a relevant question regarding my time. The agreement we have is June 3 and that is what I am sticking to, but should the conditions change and there are other things. Everything I and we do must be the best for Elfsborg.”

Elfsborg already have Oscar Hiljemark lined up as Thelin’s replacement. Aberdeen defender Angus MacDonald knows Thelin will be watching their games and their performances between now and the end of the season could be key to their long-term Pittodrie futures.

The centre-half claimed: “That started the week he got announced as manager. We have got the remaining games of this season to show what we can do. He will be watching the games and it will be a case of coming back as fit as possible to show what you can do.”

MacDonald was a key player in Aberdeen landing third last season. He then got injured in pre-season and has only got his first-team slot back in recent weeks, which has resulted in improved results and defensive displays.

MacDonald is looking to hit the ground running under Thelin. He explained: “I know what it is like first hand. You get injured in the first week of pre-season and you get left behind. Pre-season is massive. “If you get a good one behind you you give yourself a great chance to have a great season.”

2024-05-07T05:03:01Z dg43tfdfdgfd