Duk challenged to rediscover Aberdeen FC spark as Peter Leven tells star man 'I need you firing'

Aberdeen's caretaker boss Peter Leven has backed Duk to brush off the cobwebs in front of goal and rediscover the type of form that saw him light up the Premiership last season.

After arriving from Benfica B in July 2022, the Cape Verde international registered 18 goals and six assists in 43 matches in all competitions in his debut campaign at Pittodrie last year as the Dons recovered from an awful run of form over Christmas to claim a third placed finish in the Premiership. Duk formed a lethal partnership with number nine Bojan Miovski, with the pair bagging 36 goals between them - enough to win the Lisbon-born player a spot in the Premiership team of the year.

But things haven't gone to plan for the former Benfica man this season, who so much is expected of to come up with the goods when his side are missing a spark. Duk has managed just seven goals and five assists in 42 games in all competitions, with only four strikes coming in the Premiership.

The 24-year-old's most recent goals came with a brace in a 3-3 draw with Motherwell back in February, but those woes in the penalty area have seen him struggle to hold down a regular place in the Aberdeen side in recent weeks, with interim boss Leven opting to go with Miovski - who has bagged 23 goals this season - as a lone frontman.

Duk was ineffectual appearing as a substitute in Saturday's goalless draw away to Livingston, but in the Reds last home game came off the bench to set up Jamie McGrath's winner in a 2-1 victory against Ross County that eased their relegation play-off woes. And ahead of Dundee's visit to the Granite City on Saturday, Leven has challenged Aberdeen's number 11 to build on his impressive cameo in their last Pittodrie outing. He said: "Duk made a