Jim Goodwin tells Aberdeen flops the truth there's no room for them in his first team

Jim Goodwin has told the great unwanted at Aberdeen he won't lose any sleep if he puts any noses out of joint at Pittodrie this season.

The Dons boss has held frank conversations with several fringe first team players and told them they don't have a long-term future at the club and he's adamant that honesty will ensure no complaints if they remain beyond the closure of this transfer window. A clash at Motherwell tomorrow is the chance to build on last weekend's impressive win over St Mirren and Goodwin believes the secret of success is to keep his squad guessing over who's getting a start.

On the day Goodwin revealed new signing Callum Roberts faces a six to eight weeks injury lay-off, he also admitted it'll be survival of fittest for this campaign. He said: “I’m not really worried about getting every player into the team. I can only pick 11 at the end of the day and that’s where we’re at. There’s competition for places and that’s what every manager wants. I don’t want anybody to be too comfortable and the players who aren’t in the team have to be patient and keep working hard in training.

“Those who are lucky enough to get the jersey at the moment need to play well enough to keep it. I have had discussions with two or three of the squad. They know the situation, that their game time this season might be a little limited and that the club isn't going to stand in their way if they can find an opportunity out there to play more regularly.

“If they stay, then that’s great for me and it gives me more options and selection problems, in a good way. The ball is in the players’ court in terms of those two or three. In terms of the one more we have to get in. We’re still talking to a couple of players and there’s still