STEELY DON

Jack insists tight-knit Pittodrie squad have character to bounce back and make rest of season a success

- SCOTT BURNS

JACK MACKENZIE insists Aberdeen have the character and quality to start 2024 in style.

The Dons come into the new year playing catch-up in the Premiership, although they have several games in hand on many of their rivals.

Juggling European group stage football with domestic duties took a toll but Barry Robson's men are determined to secure another continental adventure.

Aberdeen resume after the winter break with a Scottish Cup trip to Clyde on Friday and will be hoping for another run after going all the way into the League Cup Final only to lose to Rangers in the showpiece.

MacKenzie knows their domestic form has been erratic at times but claims the Dons have shown they can get results in the face of adversity.

The defender, who recently came back from a hamstring injury, said: "It's a really strong group, all the boys get on really well and it is a tight dressing room.

"We have needed that this season because we've had quite a few setbacks and bad results but then you see the boys get around each other and normally we go and put it right in the next game.