With the Dons not in action this weekend the manager decided to take the team to a training camp in Tenerife. From the training base Derek McInnes spoke exclusively to www.afc.co.uk about the week ahead.

TRAINING

“We decided to come out here a few weeks ago. The trip was planned because of the difficulties with the training pitches back in Aberdeen at the moment. A few of the pitches have been deteriorating quite rapidly.

“So a break in the fixture card with no game from the Sunday for twelve days gave us the opportunity to come out here and we are grateful to the club for giving us that opportunity as well.

“We feel the main benefit coming out here is the fact the players will be able to train in good conditions and on good pitches. The injured players have also come out with us and they can continue to do their work, again in superior facilities.

“Another big positive is the fact the training camp will allow everyone the chance to get together. Win lose or draw the game on Sunday, we thought there was a lot of merit in coming out.

“It is important we use this week to refocus our energy on the challenge we face between now and the end of the season. We want to make sure we are 100% focused and we come away from this week with plenty of vigour and enthusiasm. That is the plan. There is no guarantees with it but we feel, especially with the deteriorating training surfaces, it was the right thing to do.”

FACILITIES

“There is a great training complex over here and very good facilities for us to train and do our work. We will be training every day. Yesterday we travelled so we did a bit of a loosener. We trained today and we are doing a double session tomorrow and we will make full use of the facilities we have got.

“It is good for the players to be about each other at any time, but the fact we are here with the good facilities, hopefully we will get the benefit of that. We have got a good training pitch, there is a pool and there is an excellent gym so we are well catered for here. The hotel and training complex is geared for looking after football teams.”

U20s

“The first team squad members who played yesterday for the U20s in the Development League have flown out to join the rest of the group.

“I am delighted with the win yesterday. It was a big result. Trying to beat Celtic at any level is difficult to do. Lawrence has scored a hat-trick and great credit to him. It was also a very strong performance from everyone. I managed to watch the game this morning and I spoke to Paul (Sheerin) last night. He was really pleased with the players’ efforts. Jamie, Clark, Joe, Cammy and Lawrence joined up this morning with us and the result will have given them a little boost.”

INJURY UPDATE

“The latest injury news is that Russell and Nicky are still doing a bit of running and other work with physio John Sharp. Nicky may well join in training tomorrow with a bit of luck and that will be great.

“Donervorn has a slight thigh strain but nothing too serious and Jonny’s calf will hopefully respond to treatment but we will have a better idea of his situation over the next couple of days.”

SUPPORT

“I would like to thank the supporters for their efforts on Sunday. After the run we have been on I am sure they were gutted with the result but I thought the acknowledgment they gave the players at the end of the game spoke volumes for them.

“It was not the result anyone wanted. For spells it was the performance we wanted but we never made them pay.

“Sometimes that disappointment can be difficult to take but the fans were tremendous at the end and it is something all the players have spoken about.

“Our aim is to repay them with good results and good performances between now and the end of the season. There will be no let-up in our focus. The response from the boys after a disappointing result has always been very good and I am sure we will get a similar response against Motherwell next Friday.”