Aberdeen striker Pape Habib Gueye could return from his loan spell stronger and ready to finally make an impact at Pittodrie.
Despite his big-money transfer last summer, Gueye didn’t get much of a chance to prove himself with the Dons.
That’s not a criticism of Aberdeen – because Bojan Miovski, Duk and Ester Sokler were all ahead of him in the pecking order.
Miovski has been superb and Duk was Player of the Year last season and is capable of producing moments of magic.
So it was always going to be difficult for Gueye to dislodge those two.
A striker needs to be scoring and to do that they need to be starting regularly.
Which is why it is a good move for Gueye to go on loan to Norwegian Eliteserien side Kristiansund BK until July.
He needs regular starts and to regain that goal scoring edge.
Gueye is contracted to Aberdeen until summer 2026.
Let’s face it – Aberdeen could be looking for someone to fill a void if Miovski leaves Pittodrie in the summer.
Miovski has already scored 22 times in all competitions this season and is well on the way to smashing the 30-goal mark.
That goalscoring form will inevitably see clubs interested in signing the North Macedonian international in the summer window.
If the price is right, and any deal suits the Dons and Miovski, he could be sold. That is the harsh reality of football.
And Gueye could return to Pittodrie in the summer with a prolonged spell of first-team starts in the Norwegian top-flight under his belt.
His appearances were limited for Aberdeen, but from what I saw of Gueye, he has skill and is fast.
Gueye is also two-footed and strong.
However, I can’t really remember him testing a keeper with a dangerous shot at goal.
A striker needs regular game-time to get that shooting edge – and the hope is Gueye will get that in Norway.
He also looks capable of holding up the ball and bringing team-mates into a game.
Aberdeen made a significant investment in Gueye when signing him for a six-figure fee, thought to be around £500,000, from Belgian outfit KV Kortrijk last summer.
Although not a prolific striker in his career, Gueye does have a track record of delivering goals.
Before his spell in Belgium, the striker played for Norwegian second-tier club Aalesunds.
Gueye scored 25 goals across two campaign for Aalesunds helped them to title glory and promotion to the Eliteserien in the 2019 season.
The striker then moved to Belgium where he scored 16 times in 84 appearances for top-flight Kortrijk.
However, his time there was disrupted by a knee injury.
Aberdeen interim manager Neil Warnock was happy for Gueye to go on loan to regain confidence and match sharpness.
That is the right move.
He will return to Pittodrie in July when the Dons will have appointed a new permanent manager for the 2024/25 season and beyond.
It will be like a clean slate for the striker under a new boss.
It will be the chance to kick-start his Pittodrie career and begin to repay the considerable investment from the club in him.
However, it all hinges on how Gueye fares during his Norway loan spell.
It is an opportunity he has to grab with both hands to secure regular starts – and goals.
Aberdeen trip to Kilmarnock a must-win
Aberdeen’s trip to Kilmarnock tomorrow is a must-win if they are to retain any hopes of finishing fourth in the Premiership.
Derek McInnes’ Killie hold fourth spot at the moment and are 10 points ahead of eighth placed Aberdeen.
The Dons must not allow that gap to expand to 13 points.
I must admit I’m finding it very hard to be positive about the Aberdeen team.
With the way they are leaking goals, getting into the top six – let alone finishing fourth – could be beyond them.
The midfield are not firing on all cylinders and the defence are leaking goals.
Aberdeen are in a low place at the moment and hopefully interim manager Neil Warnock can change that quickly.
The goals they conceded in the 2-2 draw with Hibs at Pittodrie were terrible.
That sloppiness in defence must be eradicated now or hopes of getting anything from this season will be destroyed.
Facing Kilmarnock on the artificial surface at Rugby Park will be tough.
It is vital the Dons cut out the silly mistakes at the back, because they will be punished.
Hoilett can bring an edge on the wing
New Aberdeen signing Junior Hoilett looks like he can deliver dangerous crosses into the box, which is much needed.
The Canadian international winger made a solid debut when coming off the bench in the 2-2 draw with Hibs.
Interim boss Neil Warnock was right to raid the free agent market to sign Hoilett until the end of the season.
Hoilett looked positive and delivered balls into the box to find team-mates in the danger area.
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