Aberdeen striker Sam Cosgrove is targeting a return in time for the Scottish Cup semi-final against Celtic.
The striker has missed the start of the season due to a knee injury but manager Derek McInnes says last season’s leading goalscorer, who netted 23 times, is targeting a return in time for the Hampden showpiece against the Hoops.
He said: “Sam is hopeful that he’s on track for what he thought. He’s thinking he’ll be back by the end of October.
“He has the semi-final in his mind, he thinks he’ll be fit for that. That’s what he’s aiming for and so far he’s coming along well.”
Cosgrove will have a clearer idea of his timetable for a return to first-team duty next week but McInnes is optimistic his attacker will be able to achieve the goal he has set for himself.
He said: “Sam is coming along well, he gets a scan next week to check everything is healing properly.
“He’s feeling good, he’s out of the boot and in the gym doing some work on the bike.
“He’s not running yet but we are pretty confident with the way he’s feeling that the split in his cartilage is healing as was expected.
“It’s quite an unusual injury but it’s one we got at the right time and it’s going in the right way.
“Once he’s had his scan, if we get the results we hope and expect to get then we’ll be able to increase his work.”
One player who has made a strong impression on his manager since returning from a serious injury is Cosgrove’s team-mate Scott Wright.
The attacker has been a regular feature for the club after suffering a cruciate ligament injury in training at the start of last season. He has quickly established himself in the starting 11 and scored in the 2-1 win against Livingston at Pittodrie on August 23.
McInnes is delighted at the impact Wright has made upon his return and believes the 23 year-old is on course to adapting to his central role off the main striker.
He said: “Scott is in a good place at the minute.
“Scott is feeling really good about himself and he should be really pleased about his performances.
“Scott is affecting games and he has the speed to play a high line as well. Players like him, Ryan Hedges, Matty Kennedy and Jonny Hayes are judged on goals and assists and he has been very influential.
“He likes the central role but it demands a lot of you. You have to stretch defences and think like a number nine in the box. He’s certainly going the right way.”