Jimmy Thelin relishing 'exciting' Rangers clash as Aberdeen boss issues Kevin Nisbet injury update

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin is relishing the chance to face Rangers this week with the Dons looking to distance themselves further from their Glasgow rivals.

Victory on Wednesday night could open up a nine point gap, and even move the Reds top of the table should Celtic drop points against Dundee.

It's a first meeting of the season between the two, and Thelin was eager to show plenty of respect to his side's opponents, well aware an out of form Rangers still pose a tough test.

READ MORE:Aberdeen v Rangers: TV channel, live stream, team news and more for sold out Pittodrie clash

READ MORE:Connor Barron warned what to expect on Aberdeen return as Rangers told Dons nowhere near their peak

Philippe Clement's Gers currently sit third in the table having struggled to find form this season, and with Aberdeen unbeaten in 15 games confidence is high in the north-east.

Speaking to the media, Thelin said: "As usual our preparation is a lot on our belief and what we focus on. Then we have an opponent of course, Rangers have an experienced coach in Philippe Clement and they are a good team.

"It’s going to be a tough game. Our focus is more on what we can do at Pittodrie.

"As usual we always respect the opponent, we are working through the week with how we’re going to prepare and try to find the weakness and the strength. For us it's more like normal routines and I think we’re ready to hopefully make a good performance again."

Join our Aberdeen FC Facebook group for all the latest Dons news

With plenty of talk surrounding the Premiership table, the Red Army are hoping to see their team create a significant gap in the table between themselves and Rangers.

But Thelin is refusing to let table talk distract him from the task at hand, adamant it is too early to be thinking about league standings.

"It’s so early in the season. We’re in October," he said. "I don’t think about the table in that way or how many points etc. For me the most important thing is the performance for ourselves in this game and that’s the only thing that we focus on.

"There was good emotions in the Dundee Utd game and now we get into the focus, game by game and training by training again and prepare us for this game. The challenge is we have an opponent on the other side, Rangers, but still it’s the same every week, we try to take this step by step and in our preparations.

"We know we still have a lot of things to improve. We’re trying to get better in every training. There is short time between the games, it’s more about video and show some parts of the game that we can do better and focus on that."

Another distraction for the Dons is this weekend's trip to Hampden, with Aberdeen set for a rematch with Celtic after their pulsating 2-2 draw at Parkhead.

Asked if he is thinking ahead to Saturday's Premier Sports Cup semi-final, Thelin insisted he is taking it one game at a time and that all focus has to be on getting the right result on Wednesday night.

He added: "No, I don’t think so. That’s why you have to be so focused on the things that happen today and not tomorrow because you can’t lose energy to think about what is in the future.

"If it’s the league, the table or the next opponent it doesn’t matter for us. It’s only the next game and the next training. I think that’s the only way to find so much energy as possible and quality as possible, if you focus only on the next game."

The Reds are waiting for positive news on Kevin Nisbet after he was let out of the win against Dundee United, as Thelin commented: "For team news there is nothing new. We still have Kevin Nisbet, let’s see. I think the physios are working really hard with him now so let’s see tomorrow.

"Otherwise, Dante is on the pitch and training with us but still some weeks but at least now he has more training to do, more small sided games, he hasn’t done that before. Hopefully we can see him on the pitch and also in a game."

Questions over whether Aberdeen had been tested had begun to infuriate the Dons fans, and so far they have passed each test with flying colours, keeping up the pace with Celtic who only lead on goal difference.

And Thelin is raring to go for his next test in front of a sold-out Pittodrie, as he said: "The excitement around the game with supporters and fans and all these kind of things, it’s just exciting!

"It’s not a negative thing but the players are focused on the performance and try to be as best ass possible for Aberdeen and for Aberdeen Football Club and try to prepare yourself a strong team tomorrow again and believe in ourselves and what we do. That’s the focus.

"We have had sell-outs now in our recent games. Even in the beginning in the away games in the cup or also in the league the support we have, the fans is pushing us in a good way.

"Sometimes in the games when it’s tight, it’s still 0-0, whatever they try to push the players over the line and try to find a winning goal at home but also in the away games try to hold for a good result. For me that’s the thing we have tried to create here, how to grow as a football club and create the spirit.

Sign up to our Aberdeen F.C newsletter to get the latest headlines, transfer news and more sent to your inbox

"It’s still early part of a journey together in the long term project but the energy we get now and I think you heard the players talk about it after the last game also. We’re so happy with that and it’s important.

"We know that’s how we want to look as a football club (selling out Pittodrie) and togetherness that’s important this connection. It’s always important.

"Hopefully that can raise our performance more consistently during the game when you need that extra punch sometimes in a positive way. I think that it’s amazing.

"For us it’s trying to keep this connection even through tougher times. Try to push and think like we’re hopefully going to be a good team so we have to grow every week.

"That’s why we can’t stop doing this even if sometimes during the journey it’s hard times. Every game we try to be better and better together and that’s what we focus on."