Aberdeen have offered a contract extension to defender Charlie Mulgrew and plan talks with captain Mark Kerr and fellow midfielder Gary McDonald.
Former Celtic defender Mulgrew joined the Dons on a free transfer from Wolves in 2008 and Aberdeen manager Mark McGhee believes the 23-year-old is pivotal to his plans.
The offer of a long-term contract is the first part of McGhee’s team building and Mulgrew’s agent, Kevin Drinkell, said: “Aberdeen want to keep Charlie and they want him to think about the long term. That’s what we will be discussing and, hopefully, there will be announcement later in the week.”
The manager wants to secure Kerr and McDonald on similar long-term deals but, while he plans for the future, McGhee’s immediate aim is to resolve the riddle of Sone Aluko. The 20-year-old is the most gifted member of the manager’s squad but also the most enigmatic.
The Nigeria international returned from the Under-20 World Cup in Egypt out of shape and out of contention. His substitute appearance in the 2-0 defeat by Dundee United on Saturday gave a glimpse of his talents, now McGhee is demanding the hard yards from the London-born player before he considers him for a first-team place at Hibs on Saturday.
He said: “Sone hasn’t looked as if he’s got the appetite, so we have kept him back. He isn’t fit enough and that has allowed Michael Paton to come in and do well.
“Sone has missed a lot of training. He doesn’t look up to speed and we are trying desperately to get him there.
“When he is fit and bombing along Sone is the first name on the team sheet. He has to be fit, but he is not there yet and the closed-doors match against Caley Thistle today and a week of training will put him a long way towards that.
“We have kept him back. It is now up to Sone to force his way past Michael into the team. We will give him every chance and are trying to get him up to speed.
“By Saturday, we will consider him more seriously for a starting place but he needs to be at the top of his fitness to win us games. We will give him every chance to get there instead of struggling along as we want to have him right before putting him in.”
Peter Pawlett was substituted on Saturday and the 20-year-old is toiling with a back injury.
McGhee said: “It is a back injury and not his hamstring. He is stiffening up and we will try to get to the bottom of it this week. It is a problem with his lower back which is showing itself in his hamstring and we want to get an answer why this is happening.”
Italian defender Davide Grassi is on the mend after suffering a fractured cheekbone during the League Cup loss at Dundee on September 22. McGhee said: “Davide is a few weeks away. He was told a minimum of four weeks before he could attempt any physical contact in training, but what he is doing is three or four gym sessions every day and has started doing some running. He is going to be a fit lad when he comes back but the most important thing with him is not to push him back to soon.”
©2009 Press and Journal
Related posts from Inverness Reds Online:
- Mulgrew Will Turn Down Offer Charlie Mulgrew will reject Aberdeen’s offer of a...
- Mulgrew Offered New Dons Deal Aberdeen boss Mark McGhee revealed Charlie Mulgrew had...
- Dons, Mulgrew in Waiting Game Aberdeen are anxious to gain a definitive answer...
- Mulgrew Continues Dons Talks Charlie Mulgrew’s agent Kevin Drinkell will meet Aberdeen...
- Dons Issue Mulgrew Warning Aberdeen director of football Willie Miller insists he...
