Connor Barron is set to miss Aberdeen’s Premiership curtain-raiser at Celtic Park after Jim Goodwin revealed the midfielder has aggravated a knee injury.
The Scotland Under-21 star has yet to feature this season after damaging the medial ligament in a pre-season friendly against Buckie Thistle last month. The 19-year-old has been earmarked as a key man for the Goodwin's Dons side after impressing with tenacious performances in the second half of the last campaign.
He’d been hoping to return in time for the league opener against the current cinch Premiership champions but he tweaked the ligament in a bounce match on Saturday and now faces another fortnight on the sidelines. Better news for Goodwin is Jack McKenzie’s expected return from a thigh injury. And the Dons boss said: “Barron played a part of a friendly match for us behind closed doors on Saturday and tweaked the inside of his knee again.
"It’s nothing major, there’s no alarm bells ringing but it is a tweak in the medial ligament which we hoped would be a couple of weeks but could potentially be another couple of weeks which is a bit disappointing.
“The Celtic game might just come too soon for him. McKenzie I’d like to think will be back in after the game against Raith.
“Young Mason Hancock stepped into that position and has done quite well. The academy boys have stepped up when needed.”
Goodwin has a decision to make in central defence for the Celtic clash with on-loan Hoops star Liam Scales unable to play against his parent club. Scales has impressed in his three appearances that have seen Aberdeen romp clear at the top of their Premier Sports Cup group.
Ross McCrorie was moved back from midfield to play the last 30 minutes of Tuesday’s 5-0 win over Stirling Albion beside skipper Anthony Stewart. David Bates could also be brought in from the cold. Goodwin said: “Ross played a hell of a lot of football at centre-back last year and was very good. I like him in the middle of the pitch because of his energy levels and his determination and willingness to get the ball back. But that might be an option.
“We’ve also got David who is available and young Jack Milne can play there. It’s disappointing Scales is going to be unavailable. Scales and Stewart looked tremendous in the opening three games. Hopefully after the Celtic game we can develop the relationship.”
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