ABERDEEN manager Mark McGhee's plans to give youth a chance in the remaining games of the season have been put on hold as Aberdeen prepare to face St Johnstone.
He had hoped to field his stars of the future once Aberdeen's relegation fears were eased, as they were with a win over Falkirk last week.
But the loss of key defensive personnel in the shape of Zander Diamond and Charlie Mulgrew means he will be looking for the rest of his experienced players to see them through tomorrow's Scottish Premier League clash.
However, the Dons boss has assured his youngsters they can still have a big future at Pittodrie and need look no further than Fraser Fyvie and Peter Pawlett to see that raw talent will be rewarded.
He said: "Without Zander and Charlie in the team, we need to play the players who have played. We have to be fair to them as well, of course.
"But a lot of the young players will be on the bench and our bench will be as young as it's ever been."
He added: "With the likes of Fyvie and Pawlett being given a chance, I would hope they would see that if they are good enough, they are in.
"That's what they've got to consider as much as what happens tomorrow or for the last four games.
"They've got to look at us as a team and a squad and a club who want to bring on young players. If they're good enough, they will be given the opportunity."
Diamond is injured and Mulgrew suspended for the game, from which the Dons need a point to mathematically secure their survival.
McGhee added: "They won't be a big loss in the sense that the things that are at stake for us are pride and the position in the league.
"Mathematically we can finish above both Hamilton and St Johnstone.
"In a season where we have been so critical of ourselves and so criticised, we would be satisfied at this stage with that finish.
"Whatever is going on with the fitness of the squad, we have pride to play for."
And he does not expect Saints to take their foot off the gas either, despite securing their own top-flight status before the league split.
McGhee said: "They will want to consolidate their seventh spot, they can rightly feel pleased with their performance this season.
"They have done tremendously well coming into the division and being where they are and being so unlucky not to finish in the top six.
"They will want to finish the season with a bit of style and they will make it a very difficult game.
"I think it will be much like last week in that the pitch there is no better than the pitch here. The wind looks as though it's going to be similar.
"So I don't think it's got the ingredients to be a silky game but I think it will be a competitive game."
Source: Team Talk
Source: Team Talk