Jim Goodwin fires blunt Christian Ramirez Aberdeen standards message as he explains squad axe

Jim Goodwin has told Christian Ramirez he lost his place as Aberdeen’ s main marksman because his strike rate wasn’t up to scratch.

And in a blunt message the Dons boss has challenged the hitman to knuckle down and force his way back into his team after missing out on a summer exit from Pittodrie. Ramirez, who was loosely linked with Hearts on Thursday, has been the centre of constant speculation over a move this summer after losing his No.9 shirt to £535,000 summer signing Bojan Miovski. A cryptic deadline day social media message, later deleted, hinted at unrest after he tweeted: “Make it make sense please. There are two sides to every story. That’s all for now.”

But Goodwin addressed his relationship with the American ahead of today’s trip to Ross County and insisted there were no issues. Ramirez struck 14 goals in 33 appearances before Goodwin took over from Stephen Glass in February but only netted once in 12 games thereafter.

Despite hitting three goals in four League Cup group games at the start of this season he’s had to make do with one cameo appearance off the bench in five Premiership encounters. Goodwin said: “There has been no issue with myself and Christian. There’s been a lot of speculation and rumours but we’ve got a decent relationship.

“He’s been disappointed not to be the main striker at the moment but Bojan Miovski’s got the shirt. People who have been to any of Aberdeen’s games since the start of this season could see why we’ve made the level of investment we made in him. Unfortunately, since I’ve come to the club, people have told me about the good things Christian did in the first half of last season.

“But I’m judging the players on what I’ve seen since February and unfortunately Christian’s