The Dons completed their pre-season programme with a 2-0 win over Linfield which left Stephen Robinson enthusing over both his side and the fixture. “It's a brilliant pre-season game for us. Linfield put it on every year for the teams that I'm with and it was brilliant to bring Aberdeen over this year. Brilliant stadium, great pitch, a good test and that's what pre-season is for, to be tested and play good opposition. “Ultimately all you're trying to do in pre-season is to see if they are taking the information on board, are the fitness levels getting better, are the reactions getting better. I think the average age of the team for the last 20 minutes was 20 years of age, so that's incredible stuff. “We've got four or five really good young boys that we need to develop through loans as well as getting them physically healthy better, but that bodes well. They're not quite ready to play for us. You see that today after 20 minutes. They're very, very tired but obviously they've got big futures ahead of them. “For us, I still think there's plenty of business to do in and out. I believe we've got the basis of a good side, but of course every manager wants more. We always want certain positions. We've got a few injuries at the moment but when they come back, I believe the squad will be strong and ready to compete, but I think it'll get stronger as the league season starts. “When you're an Aberdeen manager you try and win every single game. If we can have the right players, I believe we'll have a really competitive squad.”

The Dons might have won the game by an even bigger margin, but Robinson was pleased that his side were creating so many opportunities. “Strikers miss chances but if we're not getting into positions and we're not creating the chances, that worries me even more. We gave Ayoub Mouloua his first opportunity in the second half. It's a completely different culture, it's going to take a little bit of time for him to settle. He has got a little bit about him, he doesn't mind the physical side of it. We think he's really good in the air, if we deliver balls into the box I believe he'll score goals.” Brad Lyons got the Dons off to a flying start with his sixth minute goal, with the manager suggesting that he could be an important player this term. “Brad does the simple things well. He's a full international, he's very, very disciplined, he's a great kid. He gives you the real physicality and he's got a lot more quality than the ball people give him credit for. He's an integral part of what we're doing, on and off the football pitch. We gave him the captaincy today as well, which was great for him. You could see with his energy and enthusiasm and quality, he'll be someone I feel is very much needed in the middle of our pitch.”