Sivert Nilsen eyes instant Aberdeen FC trophy as he eyes Premier Sports Cup glory for hat trick

Sivert Nilsen already has two cup winners’ medals and is looking to make it a hat-trick with Aberdeen in the Premier Sports Cup.

He has twice lifted the Norwegian Cup with IL Hodd and SK Brann. Now the midfielder has helped Dons past Queen’s Park into the quarter-finals of the Premier Sports Cup. Nilsen said: “I’m looking for a third cup winners’ medal with Aberdeen this year. In Norway, I have been the underdog twice, where we have won the cup twice from the Championship position. I know how a cup adventure can be. Anything can happen and you can feel a little lower of your opponent when they come from a lower league. We didn’t do that and kept to the match plan.”

The 32-year-old’s success came with Hodd in their win over Tromso in 2012 and then last year Brann beat Lillestrom. It wasn’t a top-drawer display from Aberdeen but they got the job done and finally saw off Queen’s Park in stoppage time. Topi Keskinen was the man who had a debut to remember with his 92nd-minute winner.

The winger is Aberdeen’s second most expensive signing and he paid back a large chunk of that fee. His pace is his biggest asset and adds another dimension to the Reds.

Nilsen admitted: “For sure he will be big, along with Ester (Sokler) and Shayden (Morris) who have the pace and can open things up from Jamie (McGrath) and Vicente (Besuijen), who are good in between. When you have a low block it is important you make the runs in behind to create the space.

“We did that with the runners from the full-back. Nicky and Jack were in good positions one versus one. Step by step we get to know each other and the strategy. Hopefully, we can take small steps all the way.”

There is no doubt if this had been last season then there would have been boos at