Eoin Jess explodes with Aberdeen belief as icon raves about Thelin and predicts fate battling Celtic and Rangers

Aberdeen legend Eoin Jess has hailed the ‘incredible’ job done by Jimmy Thelin at Pittodrie and sees no reason why his old team cannot break up the Old Firm and finish second this season.

The Dons are only being kept off the top spot by Celtic on goal difference having won 10 of their first 11 Premiership matches, with the only blip on Thelin’s record so far coming in a 6-0 drubbing at the hands of the Hoops in the semi-finals of the Premier Sports Cup at Hampden. But Jess – who rose through the ranks in the Granite City to go on and score 94 goals in 380 matches and pick up one Scottish Cup and two League Cup medals – has been highly impressed with just how quickly the Swede has hit the ground running and reckons they can hold off Rangers and claim second spot.

He said: “I don’t see why not. They are in second at the moment and there is a long way to go but (they can) if they keep doing the right things. The pleasing thing for me is that when they have performed badly, they have actually got results and that’s the sign of a good team.

“My belief comes from the way they have been playing this year. You are in the game to win things and to finish this season would be outstanding. There would not have been that expectation to split the Old Firm. It was hard for me to watch games against the Old Firm in previous seasons and not see full attendances at Pittodrie. But now the big crowds are back, the results are right and that means the fans are coming back in their droves. It’s a matter of maintaining that and from now until the end of the season, hopefully that will be the case.

“He’s (Thelin) been incredible so far. It’s been fantastic what’s been happening at Aberdeen and we can continue from now until the end of the