Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes believes defender Tommie Hoban can be a pivotal player for the Dons this season.
The 24-year-old could make his debut for the Dons in tonight’s Europa League tie against Burnley at Pittodrie after joining the club on a season-long loan deal from Watford.
The former Republic of Ireland under-21 international has recently returned after missing the whole of last season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Goalkeeper Tomas Cerny also joined the Dons yesterday. The 33-year-old was a free agent after leaving Partick Thistle at the end of last season following their relegation to the Championship.
CLUB NEWS | Defender Tommie Hoban has this morning joined the club on a season long loan from Premier League side Watford.#StandFree pic.twitter.com/4BoMw1xSEh
— Aberdeen FC (@AberdeenFC) July 25, 2018
McInnes said: “Tommie Hoban is a player we have been keen on for the last few weeks. He played in Watford’s pre-season games and is someone his club has a high regard for.
“He’s had a lot of injuries in his career but he’s been given this opportunity to come here and play games and, if he stays free from injury, I think he will be a fantastic addition for us. I’ve got to know Tommie over the last 10 days or so and I really like him as a boy.
“You get a gut feeling with all signings and I have a really good feeling he will be a great signing for Aberdeen.”
McInnes also believes Cerny can be a capable understudy to first-choice stopper Joe Lewis following Danny Rogers’ loan move to St Mirren.
He said: “When we allowed Danny Rogers go out on loan to St Mirren we knew we were taking a little bit of a risk and we were scouring for someone who can give us that bit of comfort and cover for Joe Lewis which isn’t always easy.
“It is great to get a goalkeeper of Tomas’s experience.”
? The manager discusses the signings of Tommie Hoban and Tomas Cerny earlier today#StandFree pic.twitter.com/InREvqdy6e
— Aberdeen FC (@AberdeenFC) July 25, 2018
Meanwhile, defender Mark Reynolds could be facing several months on the sideline after undergoing knee surgery yesterday. McInnes said: “We are bracing ourselves for some bad news that he may be out for a considerable time.”
Former Hearts defender Krystian Nowak, who has been training with the Dons, will get a chance to prove he is worth a deal in Sunday’s friendly against Arbroath.
Burnley’s preparations for the match took a turn for the worse yesterday after their flight to Aberdeen was delayed for several hours by a technical fault.
Burnley travel chaos and big-match focus, Pages 54 and 55