Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin has confirmed attacker Pape Gueye is on course to return from his long-term injury nightmare next month.
And Thelin insists the Pittodrie goal hero is determined to come back “even stronger”.
Former Senegal under-20 international Gueye has been sidelined for 10 weeks by a quad muscle tear that required surgery.
Gueye was in red-hot form and hit five goals in four games before suffering his injury setback during a training session.
The 25-year-old played a key role in the record-breaking winning start to the season under Thelin.
Gueye was top scorer in the Premiership with five goals from five leagues games prior to his injury.
Aberdeen have struggled recently and have slumped to a five-game winless streak.
Thelin reckons Gueye, a £500,000 signing last summer, has “different skills” that can strengthen his team on his return.
On Gueye’s return timeline, Thelin said: “It is sometime in January.
“Exactly when in January I can’t say.
“But somewhere around there, not earlier than that.
“The thing with Pape is he has some different skills than we have in the squad right now.
“Pape is a good player that we want to get back as soon as possible.
“Until then we have supported him to help him come back.”
Attacker Gueye determined to ‘come back even stronger’
Gueye’s rise to goal-scoring hero is a remarkable turnaround after a frustrating first season at Pittodrie.
The attacker was secured in a £500,000 transfer from Belgian club KV Kortrijk last summer.
However, he made just one start and played only132 minutes of first-team action before being sent on loan to Norway in February.
During his loan Gueye made 15 appearances for Kristiansund, delivering six goals and three assists.
Gueye returned to Pittodrie in July and is revitalised under the management of Thelin.
Thelin said: “Everything is easy when it goes well.
“But the most important thing is how we support each other when it is tough times.
“It can be different. Sometimes it can be an injury or something can happen outside football.
“That is when you have to show how you support your team-mates as friends.
“We also have a really strong medical team and support at the club.
“However, when you get an injury it is about how you take care of yourself.
“Pape has done really well.
“There is always a big smile on Pape’s face and a lot of positive energy.
“He is quite determined to come back even stronger.”
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