Aberdeen head coach Jimmy Thelin has provided an update on Latvian national team captain Kristers Tobers, who is still working his way back from injury.
The 24-year-old centre-back has yet to feature for the Dons this season after being sidelined since May. His last competitive appearance came on May 24, when he came off the bench in the Scottish Cup final against Celtic – a match Aberdeen dramatically won on penalties.
Tobers joined Aberdeen in January from Swiss Super League side Grasshoppers in a deal worth around €700,000, and the club has high hopes for the defender. He recently stepped up his recovery by playing 70 minutes in a friendly win against Championship side Ross County, a significant milestone in his rehabilitation.
Speaking to the media, Thelin made it clear that the club will not rush Tobers back into competitive action. “Kristers has been out for a long time without playing a competitive match. We want to avoid any setbacks with him. He needs time to regain his timing and decision-making, but he’s going to be an important player for Aberdeen in the future. It was good to see him on the pitch again and managing 70 minutes,” said Thelin.
Despite his absence, Tobers has been included in Aberdeen’s 25-man UEFA Conference League squad. The Dons will begin their European campaign at Pittodrie on October 2, hosting Ukrainian giants Shakhtar Donetsk in their opening league phase fixture.
The squad list also features Latvian youth international goalkeeper Rodrigo Vītols. The 18-year-old has been part of Aberdeen’s system for several years and is currently the club’s third-choice keeper.
