Jimmy Thelin tells Aberdeen stars it's only middle of the race and reminds them European fight is on

Jimmy Thelin has insisted Aberdeen can still have a big season by going on to seal a European return.

The Dons are sitting in fourth place, just behind Dundee United and very much in the hunt for Europe, while they also remain in the Scottish Cup, where they have Dunfermline Athletic at home in the next round. Aberdeen’s recent Premiership form has hit the skids but the Swede hopes his team will have got a shot in the arm from their much-needed cup win at Elgin City at the weekend.

Thelin now hopes they can take it into the Premiership clash at home to St Mirren to get their league form back on-track and pushing for the Europa League and Conference spots. He said: “I think we are in the middle of a race right now and there's still a long way to go.

“We’re still in a good position whatever the run so we have to take this opportunity to try to keep fighting for the European spot and don't give up on anything at all and we need everyone to push for this because it's a culture and it's a belief.

“The more you are the stronger you are as a club and then also the team so we have to believe in this and keep pushing to the end and then make an evaluation and keep building for the next season but right now in the middle of the season we have to keep fighting for something big.”

Thelin was always the top target for Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack when he moved to headhunt him from Elfsborg in the summer. The board remain 100 per cent behind their manager, despite the recent loss of form and have more than backed him already in the January window.

They have already paid out more than seven figures in fees to sign Kristers Tobers and Alexander Jensen and also taken Alfie Dorrington and Jeppe Okkels in on-loan from Tottenham Hotspur