Boss Jimmy Thelin has confirmed a triple fitness boost as Aberdeen step up the bid to finish third in the Premiership.
Striker Ester Sokler, midfielder Dante Polvara and defender Jack Milne all returned to training this week.
Centre-forward Sokler, who has scored seven times this season, has been sidelined since suffering a hamstring injury in the 2-1 loss to Ross County on January 2.
American midfielder Polvara has been ruled out since the 3-0 win away to Elgin City on January 18 in the Scottish Cup.
Defender Milne has been absent since undergoing surgery in mid-December on an ankle injury.
None of the trio will be available to face Kilmarnock in a crunch Premiership clash at Pittodrie on Saturday.
Thelin delivers timeline for return
However, Thelin expects Sokler, Polvara and Milne to be available for selection in two weeks – which is the Scottish Cup quarter-final against Queen’s Park.
Thelin said: “Ester, Dante and Jack trained with the team today and also in the game (bounce game in training).
“That’s good and let’s see when they are back to compete for a position inside the squad.
“It is difficult to say but it will be around two weeks or something like that.”
The return of Sokler, Polvara and Milne to training is the latest fitness boost for Thelin.
Keeper Dimitar Mitov returned from injury for the 2-1 win against Dundee as the Reds ended a 14 game Premiership winless run.
Will Mitov or Doohan start in goal against Kilmarnock?
However Bulgarian international Mitov, the first choice keeper all season before suffering his injury, was left on the bench with Ross Doohan starting.
Asked if he has a goalkeeper selection headache for the clash with Kilmarnock, Thelin said: “The competition is healthy.
“We have good players, that’s what you need during the season.
“It’s a long season, it’s many games and for me it’s not a dilemma.
“It’s only positive that we have a strong competition inside.
“Decisions are made every week, in every game.
“So it’s nothing new for us to make the decisions when we have to.
“We are always going to choose the team we think has the best chance to start the game to give us the result.
“We have a lot of games now ahead of us and also on Tuesday (away to Premiership leaders Celtic).
“So, let’s see who’s going to start.”
Midfielder Jamie McGrath and centre-back Gavin Molloy are both out long term with shoulder injuries.
Intensity increasing in training
Striker Pape Gueye recently returned from long term injury having been sidelined for four months with a thigh muscle tear.
Thelin insists the return of players from injury is driving levels at training sessions as competition for positions heats up.
He said: “With some of the injured players coming back the intensity of everything is going higher.
“That helps us to achieve the goals we have with this team and the way we want to play.
“More players are fresh and that means they can support and help each other during the sessions.
“In that point, everything looks much better than it did a few weeks ago.”
Aberdeen stopped an alarming Premiership form slide when winning at Dundee last weekend.
It ended the worst run of league form in the club’s history that stretched 14 games without a win and yielded just four points from a possible 42.
Focusing on building momentum
That long-awaited league win elevated Aberdeen up to third in the Premiership.
The victory also came came on the back of a 3-0 Scottish Cup win against Dunfermline Athletic.
Thelin is determined to keep the momentum going when facing former Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes’ Kilmarnock.
He said: “The team is performing a little bit more stable now.
“They are getting better in every game and that is because of the competition we have inside the squad.
“The players look fresh and ready for a new game and it’s nice to play at home.
“We know Kilmarnock are a good team who have a good manager in Derek.
“It’s going to be a tough game but we feel really ready and prepared.”
Teen star returns to Cove Rangers
Meanwhile teenage Aberdeen winger Adam Emslie has returned to Cove Rangers for another loan spell until the end of the season.
Aberdeen recalled the 19-year-old from his loan spell at Cove on February 4.
However Emslie has returned to the League One club and goes straight into Cove’s squad for Saturday’s match against Dumbarton.
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