Aberdeen midfielder Kenny McLean has challenged his team-mates to pick up the goal-scoring burden left by the injury to attacker Adam Rooney.
Irishman Rooney, the club’s leading goalscorer this season, will miss the five matches before the split after suffering a thigh muscle injury.
Wales international loan signing Simon Church has stepped up by scoring in the two matches Rooney has missed to take his tally for the club to three in five appearances since signing from MK Dons.
But McLean knows the rest of the players have to play their part and said: “We all have to step up and score goals. Adam is a big loss but we have a good squad and players can come in.
“People need to step up, not just myself and Niall McGinn, because it’s everyone’s responsibility to score goals – that’s defenders, attackers and midfielders – we all need to chip in.”
Despite Rooney’s absence the Dons have managed to cut the gap on leaders Celtic at the top of the Premiership to four points.
Derek McInnes’ men could have been even closer to the Hoops had they not dropped two points at home to St Johnstone last weekend but McLean believes there is still time for his side to make up the deficit in the final 10 games of the campaign.
McLean is relishing the thrill of the chase at the top of the table and is enjoying the pressure of pursuing the Hoops.
The midfielder, whose side can reduce the lead to a point with victory at Partick Thistle tomorrow, said: “This season has been good. We’ve dropped some silly points but we can still finish well and pick up plenty. We’ll take each game as it comes.
“The pressure of being here is different to when I played for St Mirren, it’s better. We are expected to win every game and I wouldn’t call it pressure because the job we’ve got is one we’ve chosen.
“We want to be at the right end of the table doing what we love and having a smile on our faces.”
McLean featured at centre forward briefly against St Johnstone and is willing to play wherever he is needed.
He said: “Being up top was short-lived, I think it lasted about 20 minutes until the manager changed the shape of the team. I’m happy to play wherever he asks me to, I just want to do my bit for the team.
“I wasn’t surprised the manager asked me, I’ve played there before in the past. I feel as if I’m good enough to adapt to any situation and benefit the team. The manager knows he can rely on everyone to do different jobs.”
Aberdeen have confirmed an appeal against the yellow card shown to Graeme Shinnie in the 1-0 Premiership victory against Dundee United at Tannadice last Wednesday.
Shinnie was booked by referee Bobby Madden for diving after being clattered inside the penalty area by Arabs defender Gavin Gunning.