Peter Leven spoke to the media at Cormack Park to preview Saturday’s cinch Premiership match with St Johnstone at Pittodrie. RedTV subscribers can watch in full now through the video above.

“Everybody is fresh, everybody is fit and we have our captain back which is good. Jack MacKenzie went off last week with a sore one, he has been in seeing the medical team but he has trained the last few days so he will be fine.

“It is great to have Graeme back this weekend. He has always been there in and about the boys, in the changing room before the games. It is vital to have the captain back. The boys have done great when Graeme has been out suspended. I have that problem today and tomorrow to think about. All season we have had good availability, we have not lost that many players at once. It has been really good.

“We have to win every game. I know it is a cliché. I have set them a challenge that I want to finish as high as possible in the bottom six. Whoever it is we are playing it is a must win for this club.

“They have got good experienced players. It is going to be a tough game, they have been tough games this season against them. I have always said that if we are at it and we are on it then it is all about what we do.

“Last time they came up here it wasn’t good from us. We have turned a corner, the momentum is going through the team, we are winning games, we are undefeated in five now in the league. We are on a good run.

“I said that we needed to stop conceding goals, we have done that as that was a big factor. I would like us to score more goals, I think any coach or manager would. We are picking up points and I need to keep that momentum going.

“The recent defensive record has been very good. It is not just on Kelle or the back four, Bojan’s work rate as well, or McGrath, Duk and Hoilett pressing from the front, getting tight in midfield. It is not just a back four and goalkeeping collective it is a team so I am really pleased with that.

“It will be tough this weekend, they are down there and fighting for their lives. It is going to be tough but we need to match their effort and commitment and bring the footballing qualities.

“I have had the odd text with Jimmy Thelin after the games ‘great performance, great result.’ I had a brief chat with him yesterday on a couple of things in the summer but nothing else for now.

“Obviously Jimmy is watching the games, the players know that and they are playing for their careers as well. It is the here and now that matters the most and we need to keep on collecting points for this football club.

“You always need to win the battle first and then bring our qualities after that. You have to compete, you have to match their runners, you have to fight for every ball but then bring your quality after that.”