Aberdeen Warned To Be Wary Of Dundee Strikers

[JoeCovenant]

‘Never mind Aberdeen’s front players, we’ve got the tools to hurt anyone in this division’ — that’s the view of Dundee defender Thomas Konrad.

The German respects the threat posed by this evening’s opponents, who are certain to field the likes of Adam Rooney, Jonny Hayes and Niall McGinn at Pittodrie.

In fact, he says they are probably the most-potent and difficult-to-mark frontline he has played against in Scottish football.

But the former Eintracht Trier man says he does not fear them. However, he has warned the Dons they should fear Greg Stewart, Kane Hemmings and Gary Harkins.

“They are potent,†said the 26-year-old.

“I think it is just like playing Celtic in terms of threat, sometimes it is harder.

“Their front players run everywhere.

“Their movement in the forward areas is fantastic.

“Rooney is very strong and a difficult player to deal with and they have players out wide who can hurt us.

“That is something we have to be wary of. They will fear our frontmen too, though.

“We have a squad full of very good forward players.

“The last few games we have scored goals, so we will go with the same approach tonight.

“We want to attack and we want to win.

“It is going to be a fight tonight but we are up for that.â€

Konrad is again expected to play at the heart of the Dark Blues’ backline alongside former Republic of Ireland international Darren O’Dea.

The pair combined well during the 4-2 win at Partick.

And Konrad believes he can learn a lot from the former Celtic and Leeds United man.

“He is a fantastic player to play alongside,†said Konrad.

“He talks all the way through the game.

“And when he talks you listen because he has lots of experience having played at Celtic in the Champions League and at international level.

“There is only a couple of years between us in age but I feel like I can learn from him.

“I have not been close to doing anything like he has in his career.

“Before I came to Dundee I was a part-time footballer.

“We had a good partnership in the last game and this weekend we want to keep it going.â€

Konrad is one of a host of players at Dundee who are out of contract in the summer.

He has admitted in the past he is desperate to extend his stay in the City of Discovery beyond the end of his deal which runs out in May.

Talks are yet to begin on a new contract for the Bruchsal-born centre-half but he’s hopeful his recent performances, since his return to the starting XI, will have furthered his cause with the manager and the club’s hierarchy.

“I feel I have done well lately,†said Konrad.

“We have won both games I have come back into the side.

“So, hopefully, something can be sorted for the summer. It would be great to stay here at Dundee.

“We are on a good run and I am playing, so life is perfect for me at the moment. I look forward to every game I play with this club.

“Aberdeen are a very good side and they showed that against Ross County but we are full of confidence, too.â€

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