The Aberdeen FC masterplan for Bojan Miovski as Peter Leven knows exactly how to get him firing
Miovski is still Aberdeen's star man but he can't do it all himself as his recent barren run shows.
Peter Leven has admitted Aberdeen must provide more support to get top gun Bojan Miovski back on the goal trail.
The Dons star, who has netted an impressive 22 goals this season, is in the worst barren run of his Pittodrie spell with Saturday taking it to eight games since he last netted. He did make an impact at the weekend as his shot smashed off the woodwork at Motherwell and allowed Leighton Clarkson to latch on to the rebound and net a long overdue winner.
Leven said: “That is something we can rectify. We had a chat last week about getting more bodies about him to give him a wee bit more support. We have Junior, out on the left who is cutting inside and putting good balls in as well, who can also do a little bit more for me at times. He is a natural finisher and we need to give him more opportunities.”
Miovski is now on international duty with North Macedonia and will be looking to make an impact in their friendlies against Moldova and Montenegro. Leven hopes he can get off the mark there and then when he returns can get back firing with the Dons, as they try to force themselves up the league and go into the Scottish Cup semi-finals with Celtic. That starts at home against Ross County. The interim Aberdeen manager knows that his side need to get playing to Miovski’s strengths rather than trying to make him a makeshift target man.
Leven claimed: “We don’t have the long ball strikers. We have good footballers. At times, we have also gone a wee bit direct to him and that is not his game either. We need to find little areas where we can use him more to our advantage and slip little balls down the side for him.”
Former boss Neil Warnock labelled Miovski the best striker he had worked with, after he netted at Ibrox and then a double against Bonnyrigg Rose in the Scottish Cup, but since then the goals have dried up. Leven knows there is very little chance of the 24-year-old’s confidence being dented.
Leven joked: “Bojan’s confidence? No, Bojan is a confident boy. The confidence within Cormack Park in general is now a lot higher after their hard-fought win over Motherwell. It ended their long wait for a league win and tightened things up in the bottom half. They jumped above St Johnstone but still remain just three points clear of second-bottom Ross County. Leven stated that it is all about the Aberdeen players and what they deliver after this break.
He stated: “It is all about what we do. I have said that since I came in here. This club is huge and we need to win every game. That is the expectation from me and the supporters. It is all about what we do. It is not about anyone else. The boys have a couple of days off and then we will get back and straight at it again.”
The break allows the Aberdeen board to push on with their search for their next manager. They had indicated they would be looking to appoint Barry Robson's long-term successor in this break. The club are currently going through the interview process before they make a final decision on what way they want to go. Elfsborg coach Jimmy Thelin is one of the main names on their shortlist. He was close to getting the job last season but Robson landed the post after his long, unbeaten run helped take Aberdeen to third spot and guaranteed European group stage football.