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Returning skipper Graeme Shinnie ‘desperate’ to lead Aberdeen’s charge for third-placed finish, says boss Barry Robson

Skipper Graeme Shinnie has been inspirational behind the scenes during his four-game ban, according to his manager, but will now return to action in Wednesday's crunch home clash with St Mirren.

By Sean Wallace

May 22 2023, 3:00 pm

Aberdeen's Graeme Shinnie celebrates a win against Dundee United in March. Image: SNS

Aberdeen captain Graeme Shinnie is “desperate” to return to action to lead the bid to finish third, says boss Barry Robson.

Influential skipper Shinnie was ruled out of the Dons’ previous four Premiership games having been hit with a controversial ban.

The on-loan Wigan Athletic midfielder will return for Wednesday’s crunch Pittodrie showdown with St Mirren.

Aberdeen can secure a third-placed finish if they beat the Buddies – and Hearts fail to win at Rangers.

Aberdeen captain Graeme Shinnie during a training session at Cormack Park. Image: SNS

Despite his enforced four-game absence, boss Robson insists Shinnie has remained influential behind the scenes.

Now, the club captain aims to get Aberdeen’s bid to finish third over the line in his first fixture back.

Robson said: “Graeme is desperate to get back on the pitch.

“He has been great during the suspension, driving the sessions every day in training as you would expect from our captain.

“He is frustrated, as we all are, as Hearts was his fourth game suspended.”

Frustration lingers over Shinnie ban

Aberdeen have opened negotiations with Wigan Athletic in a bid to secure Shinnie on a permanent contract.

Wigan were recently relegated to the League One and are open to selling the midfielder.

However, it is understood they would seek a six-figure sum.

Graeme Shinnie’s challenge on Jack Baldwin which resulted in a red card. Image: SNS

Captain Shinnie was hit with the hefty ban having received a red card following a VAR review on a 50-50 challenge with Ross County’s Jack Baldwin where the Dons midfielder won the ball.

Aberdeen’s appeal against the red card failed and his ban was increased from the initial three games to four for what an appeals panel deemed a “frivolous” attempt to overturn the dismissal.

The Dons subsequently urged the Scottish FA to urgently review their appeal – but that request was rebuffed.

Aberdeen have taken just four points from the four games Shinnie has missed through suspension.

That extra game ban, for the “frivolous” nature of the appeal, saw Shinnie ruled out of the weekend’s loss at third-place rivals Hearts.

Hearts’ red card appeal successful

In contrast, Hearts’ midfielder Peter Haring’s red card against St Mirren was last week downgraded to a yellow, allowing him to face Aberdeen.

Haring was shown a straight red in the recent 2-2 draw with St Mirren having been adjudged to have stopped St Mirren’s Mark O’Hara break away with a foul.

VAR did not ask referee David Dickinson to review the red card incident.

Aberdeen manager Barry Robson during the 2-1 loss to Hearts at Tynecastle. Image: SNS

Hearts lodged an appeal and an independent panel found the midfielder not guilty of serious foul play.

Robson said: “We missed Graeme, he was a big miss.

“We got an extra game on the decision.

“And they (Hearts) got theirs’ overturned – but we crack on.”

‘I’ve not had one decision from VAR’

Robson’s frustration is not limited to the decisions surrounding the red card and subsequent four-game ban for Shinnie.

He was also disappointed at calls made by referee Kevin Clancy in the loss to Hearts.

Aberdeen were denied a penalty following a VAR review for a challenge on Marley Watkins by Haring.

VAR chose not to send the official to the monitor to review his decision.

There was a sense of déjà vu for Robson as the Dons were denied a penalty following a VAR review in the recent 1-0 loss at Rangers for a clumsy challenge by Connor Goldson on Duk.