Aberdeen boss Jim Goodwin is hopeful Callum Roberts will be able to finally get his Pittodrie career up and running soon after the World Cup break.
Summer signing Roberts has been sidelined for four months since suffering a hamstring injury in a 4-1 win over St Mirren on August 6.
It was only Roberts’s second appearance – with both coming off the bench – for Aberdeen since signing from Notts County in a £100,000 transfer.
Goodwin confirmed Roberts suffered a setback in his rehabilitation.
However, hopes remain high the 25-year-old former Newcastle United winger is on course to end his injury nightmare to return soon after the winter break.
Goodwin said: “Hopefully we will get Callum involved after the World Cup.
“He did have a slight setback recently, but we are hopeful it is not going to be anything major.
“He has had a serious operation and sometimes these things take time.”
‘If it takes a little bit longer so be it’
Roberts signed a three-year contract at Pittodrie from National League club Notts County.
The winger was so highly rated at Newcastle, he was known as the “Geordie Messi”.
Roberts made two appearances for Newcastle in the FA Cup against Leicester City (1-0 loss) and Blackburn Rovers.
He was handed a full Newcastle debut by Rafael Benitez in January 2019 and repaid that faith with a goal in a 4-2 FA Cup defeat of Blackburn.
However, at the end of the 2018/19 season, Newcastle released the winger.
After a spell at Blyth Spartans, playmaker Roberts joined Notts County in January 2020.
In his first full season with Notts, Roberts’ hit 16 goals.
Roberts forged a strong partnership on the right flank last season with Jayden Richardson.
Right-back Richardson was also signed by Aberdeen this summer in a £300,000 transfer from Nottingham Forest.
Richardson had spent last season on loan at Notts County.
Although Goodwin hopes to have Roberts back soon after the World Cup break, he will not rush the winger’s return.
Goodwin said: “Callum is making great progress, but we are not going to put a time on it.
“If it takes a little bit longer so be it.”
Hayes on course for Celtic clash
Aberdeen face an Old Firm home double-header on their return from the five-week winter shutdown due to the World Cup.
The Reds return to action on Saturday, December 17, with a Pittodrie clash against Premiership leaders Celtic.
Just days later, on Tuesday, December 20, they host second-placed Rangers.
Veteran winger Jonny Hayes is on course to return from injury for those matches.
The 35-year-old has been sidelined by injury since a 4-0 loss at Dundee United on October 8.
He was given a late fitness test on the day of the final game before the winter break, a 1-0 defeat of Dundee United.
Dons boss Goodwin opted not to take any risk with Hayes in that New Firm derby.
Hayes was the only unused substitute in the 1-0 friendly defeat of an Atlanta United XI during a week-long training camp in the United States.
Goodwin said: “Jonny was very close and we assessed him on the morning of the Dundee United game.
“That was to see if we would decide to push him for that last game before the break.
“But we didn’t have a real necessary requirement to force Jonny to play through the pain barrier.
“We will give Jonny that five weeks to make sure he is ready for the first game back.”
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Leighton Clarkson with todays brilliant winner. pic.twitter.com/LSQfN4kKqn
— Aberdeen FC (@AberdeenFC) November 16, 2022
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