Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes is confident the new Scottish Premiership season will start on August 1.
The Dons players are back in training as they prepare for their return to competitive duty with winger Jonny Hayes set to join his new team-mates today once the formalities of his two-year deal have been concluded.
The countdown is now underway to the return of the game in Scotland and McInnes believes the proposed start in early August is a realistic target.
The Dons boss said: “We work in tandem with how society is dealing with the virus and we are getting a bit of encouragement of late.
“Obviously we need that to continue but all the noises and everything we are hearing is that we will be ready for August 1.
“I think it is important that we have a date to work towards.
“We need to take ourselves back a few weeks ago and the thought of actually being here was maybe a bit far-fetched.
“We didn’t think it was going to move as quickly as it has done. There is a lot more encouragement for the season to be started as planned.
“When you have something to work towards when you come back to training it is important. We have seven weeks effectively to get ourselves ready.”
Having watched the games in England McInnes believes the biggest challenge for clubs in Scotland will be trying to generate the intensity and competitive element without the backing of supporters.
The absence of fans from the stadium has been evident in the pace and tempo of matches has been evident for home audiences and the Dons boss is mindful of the need to avoid a repeat in Scotland.
He said: “You see the English Premier League kicking off last week and it just whets the appetite again to get involved.”
“But what we need to be aware of when you watch the games in England is that competitive element.
“Without supporters the games can sometimes come across as a bit false.
“A bit nice and testimonial, pre-season friendly like.
“Once you get over that you want to make sure that when we do get back there is that real competitive element when there are no supporters in the ground.
“Trying to replicate that competitiveness is always a challenge through pre-season but none moreso this season.
“Hopefully if we can get into larger numbers and start to get 11 v 11 and game related practices and get contact again with the players all that helps with the competitiveness and to be ready for August 1.”
