Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes believes Dons youngster Dean Campbell has a bright future at Pittodrie.
Under-20s captain Campbell played the final 25 minutes in Aberdeen’s 1-0 win at Celtic Park on the final day of the season and McInnes felt he could trust the 17-year-old at a key stage in the game.
Aberdeen needed to change their shape to combat Celtic pushing for an equaliser and Campbell – the only central midfielder on the Dons bench – acquitted himself well in the final knockings of the game.
It was in the same game 12 months ago that Campbell became the youngest player in the club’s history when he made his debut against the Hoops at the age of 16 years, one month and 23 days.
McInnes said: “I needed to bring on another midfielder. Celtic went 3-1-3-3 which made it more of a running game. We needed to go to a diamond and just went with one striker against the three, using Gary Mackay-Steven as an out. I didn’t want to open the channel up to James Forrest so Mackay-Steven had a job to do defensively.
“I needed a midfielder and Dean was the only one I had. He’s someone I have high regard for and I think he’s going to be a brilliant Aberdeen player.
“But when you play against Celtic, it’s a technical game and the grass is good, I’d take him any day to play that game.
“He’s as big an Aberdeen fan as anyone in that away end. He saw his dad and his uncle at the end so it’s a special moment for him.
“We need that core of Aberdeen supporters in that dressing room to help us get more out of the players.”
The positive afternoon for those in red was only soured somewhat by the red card given to Shay
Logan after the final whistle with Logan sent off following a confrontation with Hoops defender
Mikael Lustig.
Aberdeen’s appeal against the red card was dismissed by the SFA yesterday and the 30-year-old will now miss the opening three matches of the 2018-19 campaign.
Logan was already due to miss the opening game after receiving his sixth booking of the season against Rangers and will sit out an additional two games following his red card at Celtic Park.
Hamilton, meanwhile, are in a stand-off with Aberdeen over compensation for midfielder Lewis Ferguson.
The 18-year-old has signed a pre-contract agreement with the Dons but Accies have rejected Aberdeen’s opening offer of £100,000 for development costs.
Accies are believed to be holding out for a figure closer to £500,000 and the matter may have to be resolved be an independent tribunal.