Aberdeen captain Graeme Shinnie is aiming to enhance his goal-scoring abilities with the support of new arrival Sivert Heltne Nilsen. Although not known for scoring frequently, the 32-year-old midfielder started the season by netting in Saturday’s 3-0 Premier Sports Cup victory over Queen of the South. Since his return to Aberdeen from Wigan 18 months ago, Shinnie has scored five times and is determined to increase his threat in front of goal. He believes that having Norwegian midfielder Heltne Nilsen alongside him will provide defensive stability, allowing Shinnie more opportunities to push forward and contribute offensively.
“I want to add more of a goal-scoring dimension to my game,” Shinnie told Premier Sports.
“Despite my advancing age, I still aim to contribute goals,” Shinnie remarked. “Siv has come in and offers more defensive cover, allowing me to push forward with confidence that he’s behind me. Hopefully, this will enable me to score more frequently.”
Saturday’s victory at Queens, featuring Ester Sokler’s brace, marked Jimmy Thelin’s debut competitive match in charge. The Swedish manager faced significant decisions, including disciplinary action against Luis ‘Duk’ Lopes for late reporting to preseason training, and keeping Bojan Miovski sidelined amid transfer rumors linking him to Bologna.
Reflecting on the intense summer at Pittodrie, Shinnie acknowledged Thelin’s efforts to implement his style quickly with new signings Dimitar Mitov, Gavin Molloy, Peter Ambrose, and Heltne Nilsen. “We’ve had to adapt rapidly to the manager’s approach before our first competitive game,” he added. “While it will take time to fully integrate, the Queens game was a promising start.”
Aware of last season’s underwhelming league performance, Shinnie emphasized the team’s determination to improve. “This season represents a fresh beginning with new challenges,” he concluded optimistically.
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