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Aberdeen boss Jimmy Calderwood will be relieved that they will be fit for Saturday's clash with Inverness Caley Thistle, as the Dons are going through yet another defensive crisis this season with skipper Russell Anderson, hardman Richie Byrne and youngster Andrew Considine all out of the squad due to injuries and suspensions.
Calderwood was forced this week to bring in Dutch defender Sven Baas on a short term deal as back-up for the injury-ravaged Dons defence.
Esson was not even placed on the Scottish bench in last night's 3-0 away win over Slovenia; late call-up Neil Alexander being preferred by the Scotland management team. This will be a kick in the teeth for young Esson, who has always made himself available to Walter Smith, but the lad has picked himself up after worse disappointments in the past and will do the same after this.
Diamond, who captained the Scotland under-21 team against Slovenia on Tuesday night, is back to full fitness after surviving his own injury scare. He told the Evening Express: "I had a wee problem with my right calf before the last match I played for Aberdeen against Motherwell as I took a kick in training ahead of the game."