Dons Struggling With Success

Last updated : 28 January 2008 By Stand Free Ed

DONS winger Jeffrey de Visscher believes the crippling injury situation at Pittodrie is down to the Dons being victims of their own success.

Aberdeen remain active in four competitions after Christmas this season, competing for third place in the SPL, reaching the semi-final of the CIS Cup, have played a replay in the Scottish Cup and are in the last 32 of the UEFA Cup.

In Saturday's defeat to Hearts, Derek Young, Scott Severin and Jamie Smith all suffered injuries, with Tuesday's CIS Insurance Cup semi-final against Dundee United looming large.

Young hurt his back in the warm-up and was taken off after 28 minutes, Severin followed shortly afterwards due to a dead leg, while Smith was withdrawn as a precaution during the second half after the midfielder developed a hamstring problem.

Aberdeen are also currently without Richie Byrne, Karim Touzani, Sone Aluko and Michael Hart, and Dutchman de Visscher believes that lengthy injury list is a result of the amount of football the Dons have played so far this season.

He said: "We have a lot of games, we are travelling a lot and we don't have the biggest squad for playing in the UEFA Cup, two other cups and all of the league matches.

"Maybe that is the problem, but we are working hard in trying to get everyone fit.

"I think it is unlucky that some players get injured, but we have to go through that.

"We have enough players to put on the pitch and have a good first 11."