Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes believes new striker Ryan Edmondson can offer the Dons a new threat in the absence of injured strikers Sam Cosgrove and Curtis Main.
The 19 year-old made his debut from the bench in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat by Rangers at Pittodrie following his arrival on loan from Leeds United 24 hours earlier.
McInnes was encouraged by the early glimpses of the England under-19 international in action and is pleased to have a player he had identified as a potential replacement when Cosgrove was mulling over a move to France last month on board.
The Dons boss said: “Ryan is someone when there was a possibility of Sam going to France, he was one of the players that we had looked at as a potential replacement. He scores goals, he is very highly thought of at Leeds.
“We are delighted to get him, he is young, he is raw at times, but he does have potential and he give us something a wee bit different.
“I thought when Edmondson came on that he gave us a bit more psychically and it annoyed their centre backs a bit more with his running power and his physical size. Obviously, he helped us get up the pitch a bit more.
“Ideally we would have got Ryan up with us earlier in the week. We have been working since last Saturday night to get someone in. We wanted someone who has been training and has been in and about someone’s first team.
“To get someone from a club who is willing to give up their youngsters after a prolonged season is difficult.”
Bruce Anderson was the player who made way for Edmondson after a frustrating 60 minutes where he was starved of service and it was Edmondson’s arrival which coincided with the Dons’ best period of the game.
The physically imposing Edmondson and slight frame of Anderson could not be more different but McInnes insists Anderson has a role to play in the weeks ahead.
He said: “Bruce has been brilliant, and we are delighted with him. He isn’t six foot four, but he is a striker that we believe in.
“It was a tough game for a lot of the players, in particular Bruce, he was isolated at times. Against a different opponent he might have been able to show more of his qualities and what he is all about.
“I can’t stand here and say that I won’t miss my top goal scorer, the guy has scored almost 50 goals in two seasons for me.
“It is up for us to find ways to work with what we have got, and Bruce is certainly someone that we believe in.”