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Aberdeen close in on deal for Bristol City’s Marley Watkins, as Derek McInnes tries to get striker in for Livingston game

Marley Watkins in his Caley Thistle days.
Marley Watkins in his Caley Thistle days.

Aberdeen are closing in on a deal to sign Marley Watkins and the Bristol City striker could be on board in time for Sunday’s Premiership match against Livingston.

The Dons have made a move to bring in the former Caley Thistle attacker and McInnes, while unwilling to confirm Watkins is his target, is optimistic he could have a new signing in place for Sunday’s game at Pittodrie.

He said: “We have looked at a few different options, some have run away from us and some are closer.

“We are hopeful of landing something in the next day or two.

“Getting someone has taken a lot of our focus since Sam Cosgrove and Ryan Edmondson got injured.

“Your team is only as good as your number nine at times and everything becomes more difficult if you don’t have that striker.

“If we can land something then it would be great.

“I have never managed a team with four centre forwards out, so hopefully we can get one in for Sunday’s game.”

The lack of a striker, let alone a striking option, was telling as the Dons had to dig deep to grind out a 1-0 win at St Johnstone last night.

The win was the club’s first of the campaign and while they were far from their best, the Dons boss was delighted with his side’s determination at McDiarmid Park.

The Dons boss gathered his players on the pitch at the end of a dour 90 minutes which was settled by substitute Ryan Hedges’ late winner and while he knows his side were far from at their best, he insists they will improve.

Aberdeen’s Ryan Hedges scores the winning goal at St Johnstone.

He said: “We are in separate changing rooms, so I wanted to get the players on to the pitch and remind them of what they’ve done getting three points.

“The players sometimes need to be reminded that the feeling of winning is what we do this job for.

“We will get better as we go along, we knew the game here would be a tough one.

“Nothing prepares you for competitive football and you improve as you play.

“The character, resilience and effort of the team was outstanding.

“I couldn’t be more proud of them, I knew how much they wanted to get a result tonight.

“Getting that first three points of the season gets you up and running because the longer you don’t get it it becomes an issue.”

Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes.

On Hedges’ goal, the Dons boss added: “I think it came off Liam Gordon’s heel, but if you drive in and they sit as deep as that then you can get those moments.

“It was a worthy goal because we spoke about it and told them to get their shots away.”

Meanwhile, Aberdeen will face NSI Runavik of the Faroe Islands in Thursday’s Europa League first qualifying round at Pittodrie.

Runavik defeated Welsh side Barry Town United 5-1 in the Faroe Islands last night to set up the Dons tie, with Klaemint Olsen netting a hat-trick for the hosts.