Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes has hailed the contribution of the Scottish Premiership’s most lethal attacker Adam Rooney as he closes in on the 30-goal mark.
The Irishman has scored 24 goals this season – including the winning goal in last Friday’s 2-1 win against Motherwell.
The former Caley Thistle player now has 10 matches left to break the 30-goal barrier and McInnes says the 26-year-old is more than capable of doing so.
He said: “Any successful team must have goalscorers and we certainly have that in Adam.
“His goal against Motherwell stemmed from a mistake, but he didn’t give up. He senses something may happen and half a chance may still fall his way.
“Players like that get their reward. That doesn’t happen through luck, it is through sheer persistence, anticipation and confidence.
“He is good at his job and if we create enough chances he will score goals, as his stats will show.
“His goal return since we signed him last January has been fantastic.
“He has got more to his game than goals but obviously those are vital to us.
“If he can break 30 goals then that would be great, but if he falls short we won’t decry him. He has had a fantastic season.”
Among Rooney’s haul are 14 league goals, making him the most prolific attacker in Scotland’s top flight with two more than his nearest challenger, Dundee’s Greg Stewart.
McInnes reckons Rooney is arguably the best attacker in Scotland and said: “There are a few good forwards, but the stats suggest that Adam could be the best.
“There are good players in each team but we’re just delighted Adam is in an Aberdeen shirt and doing the business for us.”
McInnes was pleased to see new signing Andrew Driver net the winner for the Dons under-20s in a 1-0 win against Ross County on Tuesday.
McInnes added: “He did very well in the game and scored with a nice, calm finish.
“We signed Andy knowing that he wasn’t up to match speed yet.
“He is physically fit, but we know he doesn’t have that match sharpness. We are also aware of where he is in terms of fitness levels. It’s not going to take him five or six weeks to get up to speed as there would have been no point signing him.
“We have taken him in and we need him to hit the ground running.
“His performance against Ross County was very encouraging.”
Willo Flood (ankle), Jonny Hayes (calf) and Peter Pawlett (groin) are all doubts for Saturday’s match against Dundee at Dens Park.