Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes believes his current squad could be the strongest he has had in his time at Pittodrie.
The Dons have bounced back from their opening day defeat to Rangers by winning all four of the matches they have played since.
The four-game winning run has been achieved despite injured quartet Sam Cosgrove, Ryan Edmondson, Craig Bryson and Mikey Devlin, and McInnes believes his current squad has given him more options than ever before.
He said: “People always say ‘you need this position or that position’ but I’m comfortable with what we have got.
“We’ve dipped in and out of a back four or back five at times this season and we feel we’ve got good players to play a certain system. The five does suit us with the players we’ve got available.
“We’d like to get two front players on the pitch but we’ve only had that in the first half of the game against Runavik.
“We’ve got flexibility, midfielders of youth and experience, the form of Ryan Hedges is a real bonus and Scott Wright is back playing well. We’ve also got forward options.
“Once we get Cosgrove and Edmondson back available at the top end of the pitch it will give us more options.”
The strength in depth was evident in Sunday’s win at Hibernian where the Dons boasted an experienced bench and with it a myriad of options for the manager.
McInnes is pleased with the options available and believes the increased competition can bring the best out of his squad.
He said: “The strength of the squad is pleasing but I’m conscious of any time I say that the injuries start mounting.
“Too many times in the past players have gone back in through necessity rather than having earned it all the time and injuries had a real impact on what we can do.
“Healthy competition has always been good for us as a club and our best spells and campaigns have come when we have had that competition.
“It has never been about individuals. We’ve had good individuals but our strength is in the squad.”
The Dons facing a busy schedule when they return from the international break and while the Aberdeen manager plans on sending some younger players out on loan he believes he will need his squad for the challenges ahead.
He said: “We hope to have a long run in Europe and we’re a couple of games behind everyone else and have a couple of extra games hopefully to be played from last season.
“I actually think that’s when we are at our best, when the fixtures really test us. But having players fit and available is going to be key for us.
“I’m happy with the squad we’ve put together and the spirt and motivation within the squad and hopefully we can now focus on winning games and trying to improve the players and situation here.”
