Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin has praised midfielders Graeme Shinnie and Sivert Heltne Nilsen for embracing the pressure of trying to lead the club out of a Premiership winless slump.
The Dons are currently 12 games without a league win and have taken only four points from the last possible 36.
It is Aberdeen’s longest run without a league win since going 12 games without a victory from May to October 1999.
Thelin has been hit by an injury crisis during the slump and has been forced to play Shinnie, 33, and Heltne Nilsen, 33, out of position on occasion.
Heltne Nilsen played at centre-back in the 0-0 draw with Hearts and 3-0 loss at Rangers.
The Norwegian gave away a penalty in the draw with Hearts deep into time added on but keeper Ross Doohan saved to salvage a point.
A mistake by Heltne Nilsen also led to Rangers’ opening goal at Ibrox.
Dons duo take on responsibility
Shinnie and Heltne Nilsen, a £300,000 signing from Norway’s SK Brann, anchored the midfield during a record-breaking 11 game unbeaten start to the Premiership campaign.
Now amidst the club’s worst league run in 26 years Thelin says Shinnie and Heltne Nilson have taken on the responsibility of trying to haul the Dons back to form.
And that begins against St Mirren at Pittodrie on Saturday.
Thelin said: “Graeme and Sivert have both taken on big responsibility.
“They can play out of position and never complain about the amount of games.
“They’re always available for games and always available in training sessions.
“Graeme and Sivert have both taken a lot of pressure on them.
“I’m really happy with that.”
Aberdeen delivered some respite from their slump in form with a 3-0 win against Elgin City in the Scottish Cup fourth round at the weekend.
Captain Shinnie dropped to the bench for the clash at Borough Briggs against the League Two outfit.
Working on January signings
In a bid to kick-start the Premiership campaign Thelin has already secured four signings during the January transfer window.
Defenders Kristers Tobers and Alexander Jensen were both signed on permanent contracts at a combined cost in excess of £1million.
Centre-back Tobers was secured for £600,000 on a three-and-a-half year contract from Swiss top flight club Grasshoppers.
Tobers, 24, is the Latvia international captain and has 37 caps.
Full-back Jensen, 23, was signed for £545,000 from Swedish Allsvenskan club Brommapojkarna on a four-year-contract.
The fee for Jensen, who can play either full-back roles and midfield, could rise to £839,000 (€1million) with add-ons.
Thelin also secured loan deals until the end of the season for Tottenham centre-back Alfie Dorrington, 19, and winger Jeppe Okkels, 25, of Preston North End.
Aberdeen boss Thelin and head of recruitment Nuno de Almeida are still working on further signings, with securing a striker a priority.
Thelin may have brought in reinforcements in January.
However, he insists every player already at Pittodrie before the window opened is fully committed to turning around the league form.
He said: “Everybody is trying.
“I don’t feel any problems with how much they want to play.
“And how much they want to perform for the supporters of this club.”
Playing with intensity
Thelin is committed to bringing a high intensity game to Aberdeen and it paid off in the sensational start to the season.
However he admits players may have to learn to adapt to playing with that intensity game after game.
And that could be a contributing factor to the winless Premiership run, a collapse in form the Swede is confident he can fix.
He said: “Sometimes you can get a higher intensity game and then the body has to adapt.
“And you have to cope with this and be stronger.
“That’s why when you’re changing things, it can take some time.
“And there can be some setbacks because it’s maybe new for some players.
“However it’s something to stretch your capacity to play with high intensity.
“During longer periods of time during the games, but also during the season.”
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