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He's ready to go - David Bates could make Aberdeen debut against Motherwell

He's ready to go - David Bates could make Aberdeen debut against Motherwell
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The 24-year-old defender joined the Dons from Hamburg on August 29.

Former Rangers defender David Bates could make his Aberdeen debut in Saturday's cinch Premiership clash with Motherwell.

Manager Stephen Glass said the 24-year-old – who joined from Hamburg on August 29 – was available after training with the Dons during the international window.

"David has trained with the group and he's ready to go," Glass said. "Obviously he's not played as much football as he would have liked recently or we potentially wouldn't have been able to get him to be fair.

"It's a case of getting him up to speed as quickly as we can and as soon as we can get him into the group that's out there on the pitch he'll be there. It might come as soon as Saturday, we'll see."

Glass gave debuts to Matty Longstaff and Austin Samuels in the 1-1 draw with Ross County before the break while another new face, Marley Watkins, came off the bench.

And with no major departures, the manager said the Dons had come out of the summer with a stronger squad – even despite the long-term knee injury suffered by Andrew Considine.

That gives Glass optimism that the recent dip in form can quickly be arrested.

"I'm pleased with the group that we've got and that we've managed to add to it rather than have a potential negative," he said.

"I think anybody looking at it would be in no doubt this group of players is stronger than before the transfer window, with the obvious exception of big Andy – that's a long-term thing that you can't control...

"I think players come to clubs like this because they want to compete to get into the team. If it's easy to get in the team you're not competing well but we've got competition right across the board from the goalkeepers to the centre-forwards.

"If you're not playing well it might be a little while before the opportunity comes again and you can sense it in training."

Glass said there had been almost a pre-season feel in the last couple of weeks as new players were integrated while others were away on international duty.

The Dons head to Motherwell looking to end a five-game winless run which included a Europa Conference League defeat by Qarabag.

"The fact that the European adventure came to an end means we go week-to-week with no midweek games in the next period," Glass added.

"That gives us a real opportunity to work with the team. This past period has not been everything we would have liked with the boys being away with the internationals but we will still be well prepared for this game and the upcoming ones up to Celtic in early October."

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Stephen Glass pictured during his time in interim charge of Atlanta United in September 2020
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
Championship Group
1Celtic220085275884
2RangersRangers220078255381
3Hearts20114637963
4Kilmarnock20114438652
5St Mirren21014246-446
6Dundee20024659-1341
Relegation Group
1Hibernian21014854-642
2Aberdeen22003749-1241
3Motherwell21015053-340
4Ross County21013459-2533
5St Johnstone20022550-2531
RLivingston21012563-3821
 
First Phase
1Celtic33246380265478
2RangersRangers33243672234975
3Hearts33195946341262
4Kilmarnock33131284334951
5St Mirren33127143843-543
6Dundee331011124454-1041
7Hibernian33912124451-739
8Motherwell33813124651-537
9Aberdeen33811143549-1435
10St Johnstone33710162446-2231
11Ross County3379173256-2430
RLivingston3339212259-3718


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