The signing of Ester Sokler can push strike duo Bojan Miovski and Duk to even higher levels in the upcoming season.
Miovski and Duk delivered impressive debut seasons at Aberdeen with 18 goals each for a combined total of 36 in all competitions.
However, the arrival of Slovenian striker Sokler on a three-year deal will ensure there can be absolutely no room for complacency.
Former Slovenian U21 international Sokler will not be coming to Pittodrie to play second fiddle to Miovski and Duk.
The 24-year-old will be desperate to make his mark at Pittodrie and secure a regular first team slot.
That competition is exactly what manager Barry Robson will want and it will be great for Miovski and Duk.
Aberdeen paid around £300,000 to sign Sokler from Slovenian top-flight club NK Radomlje so Robson clearly rates him highly.
Sokler will be hungry to make an impact in Aberdeen’s first team.
As a player you must always think you are vulnerable to potentially losing your starting slot – even if you are in top form.
That is what gives you that drive to continue to perform at the very highest level.
When I played for Aberdeen I never sat beside the number nine jersey when they were all laid out in the dressing room.
Instead I always sat beside keeper Bobby Clark, the No.1.
That is because I never took it for granted that I would start even when I was scoring regularly.
And that gave me an extra edge to hit the heights to keep my place.
All three upfront?
Aberdeen have a potent attack with Miovski, Duk and Sokler.
Manager Robson could even play all three at once with Miovski and Sokler the two upfront with Duk just in behind them.
If you are playing in certain games, say a team from the bottom six, then the Dons could go with all three strikers to go for goals.
Miovski and Duk have both been linked with clubs across Europe interested in launching a summer transfer window move.
However, Aberdeen do not need to sell them and there is the lure of European group stage football next season.
Both are also tied to Pittodrie on long term contracts.
North Macedonian international Miovski is contracted until summer 2026, while Duk has another two years left on his deal.
There is no reason why Miovski and Duk cannot smash the 40-goal mark between them for the Dons in the upcoming campaign.
When you also add in Sokler, the Reds will have a real threat in attack.
I was delighted to hear Miovski is on track to be fully fit for the start of the season, which begins away to Livingston on Saturday, August 5.
Miovski had been ruled out with an ankle injury suffered in the 3-0 defeat of St Mirren in May.
Thankfully the striker, who is at the Dons’ training camp in Portugal, is now back running.
Miovski hopes to return to full-training with his team-mates on Monday.
Strike partner Duk will also return to training on Monday having been given extra-time off due to international duty.
Duk played in Cape Verde’s 3-1 defeat of Burkina Faso last month to secure qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations finals in January and February.
Miovski, Duk and Sokler will all be ready to hit the new season running.
However, teenage striker Alfie Bavidge will also be desperate to make his mark.
Bavidge was prolific at under-18 level and made his first team breakthrough last season.
This will be a big season for the 17-year-old and I expect him to get more game time.
Chance for Besuijen to impress
Aberdeen boss Barry Robson has confirmed Vicente Besuijen and Anthony Stewart will be given the chance to impress him during pre-season.
Both players have something to offer but they need to show that after returning from spells sent away on loan from Aberdeen.
Winger Besuijen has returned from a loan at Dutch top-flight club Excelsior for the second half of last season.
Besuijen’s time at Excelsior was hindered by injury frustrations and now he is back for pre-season training with the Dons.
The Dutch playmaker still has three years left on his Aberdeen contract so Robson is right to give him a chance to resurrect his Pittodrie career.
Besuijen is undoubtedly a talented player and started last season well before falling out of favour under former boss Jim Goodwin.
He has the pace and skill to beat players, but too often there is no end product.
Besuijen needs to add that final ball to his game and he needs to look up and be more aware of potential passes to his team-mates.
That will come, I have no doubt about that.
And when he adds that to his game, Besuijen will be a quality player.
Former Aberdeen captain Stewart also had a frustrating loan spell at MK Dons which was hindered by injury.
He has a year left on his Dons deal and has been given the chance to impress Robson.
It is ultimately down to Besuijen and Stewart how they respond to that challenge.
Pre-season stepping up with games
Aberdeen’s pre-season preparations will ramp up further with the first friendly when they face Turriff United away on Wednesday.
The hard work will have been done in the heat in Portugal at their training camp to get that base fitness level.
Then the Dons will work on getting that match sharpness, that eye-to-ball coordination and the chemistry between the players clicking.
Before 😄
During 🏃♂️
After 🥵 pic.twitter.com/Qmlj9okRvN
— Aberdeen FC (@AberdeenFC) July 3, 2023
Results are not important in pre-season friendlies as it is all about getting that fitness and sharpness.
However, the Dons must have the right attitude when playing Highland League Turriff.
They must treat it like a real, competitive game in the bid to get that sharpness and edge for the new campaign.