Tommie Hoban has joined Aberdeen for pre-season training.
But Dons boss Derek McInnes insists fans should not get their hopes up about seeing the former Watford defender join the club on a permanent basis.
Hoban has taken up a long-standing offer from the club to complete his rehabilitation from a serious knee injury which curtailed his loan at the Dons in February 2019.
Hoban had briefly joined the Dons in March but cut short his trip to return to England for the birth of his daughter before the coronavirus pandemic brought the season to a close.
Despite previously expressing an interest in bringing Hoban back to the club McInnes has played down any attempts of signing a deal.
He said: “Tommie is up for us to fulfil our commitment to get the boy fit.
“We are well aware under the current restrictions we can’t sign players.
“This can’t be seen as us looking to sign Tommie. All we are trying to do is offer him the medical facilities and the opportunity to finish his rehab because he got injured playing in an Aberdeen shirt and we feel responsible.
“Tommie was up with us before the season was curtailed and we just wanted to continue that really because we feel it is the right thing to do.
“It is good to have him back and he will be with the physios for the next week or so and hopefully he will start to make progress towards his rehabilitation.”
Meanwhile, the Dons boss has finalised plans for friendlies against other Premiership clubs as he continues his build-up to the new campaign on August 1.
McInnes said: “We have put in four just now and we have one free weekend which we may or may not use.
“We hope to get an 11 v 11 game at Pittodrie and amongst ourselves in full match conditions.
“We need at least four or five games before the season starts. Once we get these fixtures out, if we are playing these teams at the start of the season we may look to play other games as we have other options but I do think it is important we have some competitiveness element.
“Playing against ourselves and replicating 11 v 11 is one thing but if we are going to have any chance of being ready we have to play against other teams.”
McInnes added: “Niall McGinn and Dylan McGeouch have done more work than they should have done during the lockdown but nothing which will prevent them from starting the season or playing these training games.
“Sam Cosgrove had a back spasm which will keep him out for a couple of games. He has a history of that as we know and we’re trying to get to the bottom of that.
“Matty Kennedy is also working away but by and large everyone working with the physios will be ready for the start of the season.”
