Aberdeen should unleash summer signing Bojan Miovski from the start against champions Celtic on Sunday.
There is no point keeping a £535,000 signing on the bench in such a huge game, especially after Miovski scored on his debut.
It took just six minutes for the North Macedonian striker to get off the mark when scoring in the 3-0 defeat of Raith Rovers. Scoring so early at a new club is a dream start for a striker.
Miovski is still short of full match sharpness, but he showed more than enough on his debut to warrant a start at Parkhead.
In his debut against Raith, the striker moved around the penalty area very well.
He did well to win the penalty.
The way he smashed the spot-kick home, just minutes into a debut, was impressive and showed a striker full of self-confidence and belief.
Miovski looks to have an eye for goal and real pace.
If the Dons can get the ball into the box to him at Parkhead, the summer signing can bury it.
He looks a very good player who can sharpen that attacking edge for Aberdeen.
Christian Ramirez did very well for Aberdeen last season to net 15 goals.
However, for Parkhead, I would give Miovski the nod.
It will be a completely new Aberdeen that will face Celtic in Glasgow this weekend.
Manager Jim Goodwin has signed nine players this season and many have exited the club.
Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack and the Pittodrie board have splashed out more than £1 million to finance the overhaul.
The Reds won all four games in the Premier Sports Cup group stages to ease into the last 16 of the tournament.
However, those wins all came against lower-league opposition.
Aberdeen were expected to top the group and delivered.
The real test of just how far this side has progressed following the summer window reconstruction will come at Parkhead.
Aberdeen must approach the Celtic game with no fear.
If they get a draw it will be a strong return and evidence the rebuild is paying off.
However, if the Reds can leave Parkhead with three points, it would deliver a real message to Scottish football about the new-look side.
There has been a lot of positivity and optimism this summer following the calibre of new signings secured.
Ultimately it has been difficult to fully judge the new-look Dons because they have only played teams from lower leagues.
Celtic at Parkhead will deliver the true indicator of how far the Don have progressed, or not, following the summer changes.
Aberdeen’s target for this season must be securing a return to Europe.
The investment during the summer, the size of the club and the expectation from supporters demand European action.
After seven straight years, the Dons missed out on European qualification last term.
That cannot happen again.
Aberdeen boss Goodwin, his recruitment team and the club’s board have done their bit by rebuilding the squad this summer.
Now the players have to deliver over the season with entertaining football and a return to Europe.
The first step on that road is at Parkhead on Sunday.
All eyes will be on the Dons to see if this rebuild will be a genuine new dawn.
Excitement over ‘Geordie Messi’
I’m excited to see new Aberdeen signing Callum Roberts in action following his arrival from Notts County.
Roberts was sensational in the National League last season and the Dons beat off competition from clubs in England to sign him.
The right-winger, who was signed for £100,000, can also play as a No.10 and was a prolific scorer last season.
He also pitched in with a lot of assists.
Roberts was so highly regarded by supporters at Notts County, they called him “the Geordie Messi”.
A quick look on the Internet shows why.
As with any signing the first port of call for supporters will be YouTube to source footage of him in action.
Aberdeen supporters will be thrilled at the footage of Roberts.
There are many videos of him going on mazy runs and beating defenders before scoring.
He also has a powerful long-range left-footed shot.
Roberts came through the Newcastle United youth system and played twice for the Magpies in the FA Cup.
When he was released by Newcastle, his career took a dip, but he has very much been on the ascendancy in recent seasons.
Roberts looks like a player who will get Aberdeen supporters out of their seats in excitement and anticipation with what he can do on the ball.
He looks capable of delivering that moment of magic, that spark of creativity, that can unlock defences and turn games.
Hancock impressed before loan deal
Teenage left-back Mason Hancock impressed in recent games in the Premier Sports Cup.
He was particularly impressive in the 3-0 defeat of Raith Rovers.
However, Hancock has now been sent out on loan to Championship Arbroath for the rest of the season.
That loan move was confirmed after the Dons secured left-back Hayden Coulson on loan from Middlesbrough.
Although only 24 years old, Coulson is very experienced and has made more than 50 appearances for Championship Middlesbrough.
Aberdeen needed to take in that left-back cover, because Hancock is still very young and Jack MacKenzie has struggled with injury setbacks recently.
Hancock is going to a great team for his loan deal at Arbroath.
Under manager Dick Campbell’s guidance, Arbroath were very impressive last season.
They reached the play-offs having narrowly missed out on the second-tier title to Derek McInnes’ Kilmarnock.
A loan at Arbroath in the Championship will give talented teen Hancock regular game time and vital experience.
It is a good loan move for him.
Conversation