Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin says Dimitar Mitov will be ‘back quite soon’

Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin offered a positive update about luckless Dimitar Mitov as the goalkeeper begins another spell on the sidelines through injury.

The 28-year-old sustained a shoulder injury playing for Bulgaria against the Republic of Ireland in the recent Nations League relegation play-off.

It will be Mitov’s third spell out this season and he will be replaced by Ross Doohan for the William Hill Premiership game against Motherwell at Pittodrie on Saturday.

Victory for the home side will guarantee a top-six berth, although with eight fixtures remaining the fourth-placed Dons are keen to clinch a European spot.

It is not clear if Mitov will return in time for the Scottish Cup semi-final against Hearts at Hampden Park on April 19, but Thelin said: “Dimi is a little better than we were first expecting. I think it’s more about weeks and not longer than that but let’s see.

“They’re working a lot with him now but I think it is some weeks ahead. It’s a small muscle injury in the shoulder.

“Sometimes it can happen (bad luck with injuries). He has had this kind of season now with some injuries.

“We need to, like we do with every player, evaluate after the season and try to plan the programme for next season.

“Sometimes it can happen and we have to try to find the solutions and prepare for next season but we are in this season still and I think he’ll be back quite soon.”

Other injury news was mixed as Thelin spoke about defender Kristers Tobers and midfielder Sivert Heltne Nilsen, who both missed two games going into the break.

The Dons boss said: “It’s the same process for Kristers Tobers. It’s more about weeks and not months but it’s difficult to say the exact timeline. I’m quite positive there also.

“He is working so hard together with the medical and performance team. We have to wait and see and don’t do anything that can make it worse. His injury is a smaller one in the hamstring.

“I think that’s a longer one for Sivert. It’s quite an unusual injury. The timeline there is much longer, so we have to wait and see and make some other assessments.

“Right now we can’t do so much. I’m not an eye expert so let’s see but there is a timeline so we have to wait.

“Everybody seems fresh and back from the international break. Everybody has individual programmes more or less and some have played games for their countries.

“The energy was there today and even this week there was really good sessions for the players who were not away. We look sharp and ready for tomorrow.

“Motherwell have a new manager who has done a really good job.

“They’re stable, they score goals, they play with a lot of intensity. I think it’s going to be a really exciting game with two teams who have a clear approach and want to attack the game.”