Derek McInnes has urged his Aberdeen side to take a huge step towards securing Europa League football for a fourth summer in a row this weekend.
Celtic can win the Premiership title if the Dons lose to Hearts at Pittodrie tomorrow but McInnes is less interested in delaying the Hoops’ inevitable title celebrations and more concerned with leading his club into Europe again.
Victory will take the Dons 17 points clear of the Jambos with nine matches remaining and prolong Celtic’s wait for title but McInnes said: “It’s not at the forefont of my thoughts.
“All it is really is an opportunity to go 17 points clear of Hearts and that would go a long way to securing European football.
“We’re not there yet and we still expect some tough games before the split and some tough games after the split with the better teams, so we’ve still got lots of work to do.
“If we can win the game then it could be important in that sense. Not only that but we’re only looking at what we want from the season ourselves.”
The sprint to the finish line is under way for the Dons and the Aberdeen manager is demanding 100% focus.
He said: “With 10 games to go it’s important to concentrate on ourselves.
“I’ve said to the players it’s important that we’ve put ourselves in a decent position in the Scottish Cup and the league but how you finish the season is how you’re judged.
“We go into that final stretch now of 10 leagues games. If we can mirror or replicate some of the form we’ve had over the last two months then hopefully we can get want we want to get from the season.
“The performances have been good and it’s important that we concentrate on each and every game and try to concentrate on finishing the season as strongly as we can.”
Andy Considine returns to the squad after missing Saturday’s win against Motherwell due to suspension but fellow central defender Mark Reynolds will miss the next month after undergoing a groin operation yesterday.
McInnes, meanwhile, has confirmed goalkeeper Neil Alexander, who has been unable to dislodge Joe Lewis as first choice at Pittodrie, will leave the club in the summer at the expiry of his one-year deal.
