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Mattie Pollock is Aberdeen FC transfer target as Barry Robson keen on Watford star amid defensive issues

The Watford defender is on a list of names that the Dons boss and his recruitment team are investigating ahead of the deadline.

Mattie Pollock in action for Aberdeen previously
Mattie Pollock in action for Aberdeen previously

Aberdeen are keen to bring back Mattie Pollock to solve their mounting defensive issues.

The Englishman, who had a successful loan with the Dons last season, is amongst a list of central defensive targets that Barry Robson and recruitment team are investigating ahead of Thursday’s deadline. It remains to be seen if Watford would let Pollock return to Pittodrie after he played 90 minutes in the weekend FA Cup draw with Southampton.


Aberdeen are awaiting the scan results on Slobodan Rubezic’s knee injury and are also sweating on Stefan Gartenmann who came off injured against Hearts. Robson confirmed: “Rubi will see his specialist on Wednesday so we’ll get a clearer picture on him then. Stefan Gartenmann is away to have a scan as well, so we’ll see what that says on him.”


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Robson has made his first move in the market by signing midfielder Killian Phillips on-loan from Crystal Palace. He said: “Killian is a good type who will fit in well here, he’s got energy, he’s box-to-box and he’s aggressive. He can help us out in the middle of the pitch and will allow us to freshen things up a bit in there. Have we missed that aggression since Ramadani left? Maybe a wee bit but we have been aggressive with the ball. He’s a different type who will allow us to change the mix in the middle of the park a wee bit.”

Meanwhile, Robson understands why he is in the line of fire but is confident he will turn Aberdeen’s toiling Premiership fortunes around. The Dons boss has been taking it in the neck from his own fans as the weekend defeat to Hearts left them 19 points behind the third-placed Jambos, although the Dons have three games in hand, starting at home to Dundee.

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There was a ‘Robson must go’ banner put outside Pittodrie on Saturday night and a lot of the chat on social media is that large elements of the Red Army want managerial change. Robson stated: “This is the demand of the football club here so I understand it.

“I’m an Aberdeen boy, I’m a supporter and I’ve been here for ten years so I get it. I’m a big boy, I’ve been criticised my whole career - from playing to management.

“Even when you win games as a manager you still get criticised. I don’t read too much into it, my focus is on the group here and working on the things we can do to become better.

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“I’m as frustrated as anyone with how inconsistent we’ve been. The fans have been really good with me, my staff and the players - they’ve always backed us.

“But they get frustrated and you have to accept that - you just have to win games. For me, if you start well in games then the supporters will back you so we have to make sure we do that on Tuesday. The players want to do well for the football club and for the supporters, the culture is really good.”

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