Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes praised Shay Logan for playing through the pain-barrier against Celtic.
The 31-year-old made his first appearance for the Dons for three months since ankle surgery in Saturday’s 3-0 defeat at Pittodrie.
But manager McInnes was pleased the defender made himself available with the Dons severely depleted for the closing stretch due to a series of injuries.
McInnes said: “Shay clearly wasn’t fully fit and match-ready but it is great how he pushes himself forward. He brought an energy and enthusiasm to training last week.
“He was doing everything possible to be involved but he had ran his race by 65 minutes. He will be better for having had the game.”
The Dons, sitting fourth in the table with two games to go, will welcome back the suspended Andy Considine for Friday’s visit of Craig Levein’s Hearts, who were beaten 1-0 by Kilmarnock at the weekend.
But with Connor McLennan, Graeme Shinnie, Niall McGinn, Gary Mackay-Steven, Tommie Hoban, Stephen Gleeson and Frank Ross all sidelined, McInnes is short on options as the Reds bid to bounce back after back-to-back defeats against Celtic and Rangers.
The Dons manager said: “We now have to knuckle down and get ready for Hearts and hopefully get a few more out of the treatment room to help our cause.
“Stephen Gleeson picked up a calf strain on Thursday which ruled him out of Saturday’s match. We hoped it would settle but he was ruled out of the game on Friday. We will have Andy Considine back after suspension.
“The suspension stuck in the throat a bit after the Rangers game and we had to deal with that but we will get him back.”
McInnes, meanwhile, is looking forward to being back in his familiar position in the Aberdeen dugout after being forced to watch Saturday’s game against Celtic from the stands as a result of a touchline ban imposed on him by the Scottish FA.
The Dons manager received the one-match ban for making a gesture towards Celtic fans who were singing a sectarian song about him during last month’s Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden.
He added: “Sitting in the stand was unusual for me. I have been doing the job for 12 years and it is the first time I have served a suspension.
“I didn’t particularly enjoy watching my team lose the game. I’ll be back in the dugout next week.”