| The prospect of meeting Aberdeen in the Co-Operative Insurance Cup semi-final is rather different now that Craig Brown and Archie Knox have taken on the management of the side. They made a big difference to the scoreline the other week from the 9-0 recorded in November. With the next meeting in a cup so soon after a better performance, the Dons will be keen top go one better and reverse the result. Kris Commons goes straight into the squad for today's game after completing his move from Derby. Commons passed a medical and agreed personal terms on Thursday before the finishing touches were applied to a three-and-a-half-year deal on Friday morning. Commons was out of contract at the end of the season and is understood to have cost in the region of £300,000. There is an option to extend the initial deal by an additional year. Lennon said: "Kris is a goalscorer. I've known him for three or four years from my time when I spent six months at Nottingham Forest. I always liked his style, he can play either side of midfield and he can play off the striker. He's predominantly left-footed but he can hit a good ball with his right foot so he's got good feet. He's a clever player. He's sharp and quick around the box and he has scored 13 or 14 goals this season for Derby from a deeper position. What he brings is a bit of extra quality in the final third. We know he's a goal threat from any position he plays. I like his temperament as well. He never gets disappointed, he likes to keep going. He will be in the squad for the semi-final. Whether he starts, he will definitely be in contention.'' Aberdeen will take to the Hampden pitch without Nick Blackman who is cup-tied after playing Motherwell in an earlier round in the season. Sone Aluko will undergo a late fitness test as he bids to make his comeback from an Achilles injury. |