Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin reveals Kevin Nisbet X-factor key to success.
Kevin Nisbet, an on-loan Millwall striker, leads Aberdeen in goals with 13 and was recently named Players’ Player of the Year by his teammates.
Aberdeen’s Kevin Nisbet celebrates after scoring the opening goal in the 4-1 Scottish Cup quarter-final win over Queen’s Park at Pittodrie. Image: SNS
Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin has praised loan striker Kevin Nisbet as the type of player his team requires to win trophies.
On a season-long loan from Millwall, the Scotland international leads the Dons in scoring with 13 goals this season.
His teammates recognised his contributions by naming him loan star player of the year at the club’s recent awards ceremony.
Nisbet’s performance at Pittodrie also earned him a return to Steve Clarke’s Scotland squad this season.
Kevin Nisbet of Aberdeen celebrates scoring to make it 1-0 against Hibs in the Premiership at Pittodrie. Image: SNS
Thelin believes the striker has developed as a leader during his time in Granite City.
The Swede believes that having players like Nisbet is critical to the club’s success.
Nisbet will return to his parent club Millwall in the summer following the Scottish Cup final against Celtic on May 24 at Hampden.
Aberdeen striker Kevin Nisbet takes a selfie in front of the Red Shed after the 1-0 win against Hibs at Pittodrie. Image by Shutterstock
Thelin stated, “Kevin has grown since he arrived through hard work and becoming more comfortable with the team.
“He has also improved in terms of leadership and accepting responsibility on the field.
“You can see it when he’s down near our own box, blocking shots.
“Then he gets up and tries to attack again.
“Those are the people you want on a team.
“I understand why the teammates feel like that (naming Nisbet players’ player of the year).”
Nisbet has scored at least ten goals in three of his last four seasons in the Scottish Premiership.
In addition to 10 league goals this season, he scored 14 in 2020-21 and 12 in 2022-23 while at Hibernian.
Proven Premier League goalscorer.
The loan striker is one of only four players to score 10+ goals in three Scottish Premiership seasons since 2020-21.
Others include former Celtic attacker Kyogo Furuhashi (four), ex-Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos (three), and Rangers captain James Tavernier (three).
Aberdeen’s Kevin Nisbet celebrates scoring to make it 3-0 against Dunfermline. Image: SNS.
Thelin stated, “Kevin creates chances and scores goals, but he also competes for the game’s outcome.
“That is significant because we require characters in order to create this environment for ourselves.
“Ultimately, the goal is to win games and titles.
“So you need these types of characters.
“That’s what everybody has to see and learn from each other to contribute in the future.”
Thelin expressed interest in retaining Nisbet beyond the summer, but financial constraints may hinder this.
We knew what Kevin could do.
The Dons are not paying all of Nisbet’s wages, and Millwall are expected to recoup around £1 million from the £2 million paid to Hibs for the striker in summer 2023.
Nisbet’s contract with Millwall runs until the summer of 2026.
Aberdeen’s Kevin Nisbet (R) celebrates scoring to make it 4-1 with Vicente Besuijen against Dundee. Image: SNS
Millwall manager Alex Neil has confirmed that Nisbet will be given the opportunity to compete for a first-team spot during preseason.
When asked if Nisbet is now a more complete player, Thelin replied, “I didn’t know him that well before.
“But he came here after a long break from playing, which can be difficult.
“We knew what Kevin could do.
“However, it was important to give him time to get in shape and get into his maximum running and performances.”
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