Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin confirmed star striker Bojan Miovski will be at training next week as clubs across Europe monitor the goal hero.
Miovski was a shock omission from Thelin’s first competitive game as Aberdeen boss – a 3-0 Premier Sports Cup group stage away win at Queen of the South.
It is the first time in Miovski’s two years at Aberdeen the striker was not named in a match-day squad – when fit.
The North Macedonia international is on the radar of Italian Serie A club Bologna with the view to a summer transfer window swoop.
On Sunday, Bologna sold striker Joshua Zirkzee to Manchester United in deal worth 42.5million euros (£36.54m) and will now ramp up their bid to sign a replacement.
Miovski is also on the radar of clubs in England, Germany and Italy after netting 26 goals in all competitions last season.
The striker is contracted to Aberdeen until summer 2026.
Thelin offered clarity on his shock call to leave out the star striker.
He said: “I spoke to Bojan yesterday (Friday) and during the whole week.
“We talked about the game and how there is a lot of things going around him right now.
“We talked about don’t play this game and then focus on training from Monday again and then move on from there.”
Quizzed if Miovski could miss further League Cup games, Thelin said: “We talked only about this game and training on Monday.”
Asked if the “things going around him” was transfer speculation, Thelin replied: “There is a lot of things as he is a really fine player.
“He has been doing so fine in training and also gives good energy to the locker room.
“But we decided we would play with Peter (Ambrose) and Ester (Sokler) for this game and keep training on Monday.”
Asked if he thought Miovski’s head was in the right place and the striker still committed to Aberdeen, Thelin said: “Yes. He is doing really fine.”
Miovski was also absent from the squad that beat Peterhead 4-0 in a closed-door friendly at Cormack Park on Wednesday.
Aberdeen recently confirmed striker Duk is absent from the club without permission having failed to return for pre-season and is now the subject of internal disciplinary proceedings.
With Miovski and Duk both out, Ester Sokler led the attack – and the Slovenian delivered a compelling argument he can deliver a potent goal threat under Thelin.
Assessing Thelin’s new signings
Thelin handed debuts to three of his four summer signings.
Keeper Dimitar Mitov (St Johnstone), midfielder Sivert Heltne Nilsen (SK Brann) and defender Gavin Molloy (Shelbourne) all started.
Striker Peter Ambrose (Ujpest) was on the bench.
Norwegian Heltne Nilsen made an impressive debut and will finally fill that hole left by the transfer of Ylber Ramadani to Lecce for £1.2m last summer.
Heltne Nilsen seemed to be everywhere at Palmerston Park, making interceptions, tackles and finding players with accurate passes to open up play.
Heltne Nilsen was vocal, directing and advising his team-mates.
There was a balance of calm and aggression in his performance.
The midfielder acted as both destroyer, breaking down Queen’s attacking moves, and creator – instigating Dons attacks after a turnover of possession.
Centre-back Molloy was rock solid and kept the shackles on striker Leighton McIntosh.
Molloy is composed in possession, has good awareness and can play out from the back.
Whenever Mitov was called upon, which was rarely, he stood up to the challenge.
Early in the second half, Bulgarian international Mitov produced an impressive low diving save at his near post to block a vicious Benji Luissint drive.
The new keeper was also vocal and communicated well with his back-line.
Ambrose was introduced off the bench mid-way through the second half and brought an energetic, physical presence.
Sokler lays down an early marker
The new dawn under Swede Thelin began with a bang as the opening goal arrived after only five minutes.
Winger Shayden Morris burst down the right flank beyond Oscar MacIntyre and delivered a superb cross into the box.
Sokler rose high above the defence and headed downwards with the effort powering beyond keeper Ross Stewart for a dream start.
Aberdeen increased their lead in the 22nd minute when Graeme Shinnie completed an audacious drag back in the box.
He then nutmegged Matty Douglas before firing a clinical six-yard shot beyond keeper Stewart.
Another impressive goal for Aberdeen as Thelin’s fluid play takes early shape.
Sokler doubled his goal tally when completing a sweeping move in the 37th minute.
Jamie McGrath released Leighton Clarkson into the box, who squared a pass to Sokler to fire in low from eight yards.
Aberdeen had clear chances from Sokler, McGrath and Devlin in the second half, but couldn’t add to their goal tally.
ABERDEEN (4-2-3-1): Mitov 7; Devlin 7 (Milne 80), Rubezic 7, Molloy 7, MacKenzie 7 (McGarry 67); Nilsen 8, Shinnie 8 Morris 7 (Duncan 67), Clarkson 7 (Boyd 80), McGrath 7; Sokler 7 (Ambrose 67).
Subs not used: Doohan, Jensen, Besuijen, Milne, MacDonald.
QUEEN OF THE SOUTH (3-5-2) : Stewart 6; Hewitt 6, Douglas 6, Dickenson 6; Docherty 6 (McKechnie 71), Luissint 5 (Craik 58), Lyon 6, Cochrane 6, MacIntyre 6; McIntosh 6, Kennedy 5 (Walker 71).
Subs not used: Hogarth, Johnstone, Rogerson, Ross, McLinden.
Referee: Don Robertson
Attendance: 2,274
Man-of-the-Match: Sivert Heltne Nilsen (Aberdeen)
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