SKIP PAST THE FLAK

McGrath: We don't pay attention to verdicts on social media... we know captain Shinnie is priceless in this Dons team 

- SCOTT BURNS

JAMIE MCGRATH has jumped to the defence of under-fire captain Graeme Shinnie, claiming he's "priceless" to Aberdeen.

The Dons skipper has come in for some stinging criticism, along with manager Barry Robson and his team, following Sunday's Viaplay Cup Final defeat to Rangers at Hampden.

A section of the support has questioned whether or not the midfielder can still have the same influence on games at 32.

McGrath plays alongside Shinnie in the middle of the park so knows him better than most and what he brings to the Pittodrie dressing room both on and off the park.

The Republic of Ireland cap said: "I don't pay too much attention to social media and I don't think any of the players do.

"You can be great one week and the worst player in the world the next so it's about trying to find a happy medium.

"We're not daft. We know the form Shinnie is in, his work-rate, the way he leads on and off the pitch. He's priceless. To have someone like him alongside us, you can't put a price on that."

Many of Aberdeen's key players struggled to cope with European group stage football on top of the domestic demands.

And McGrath said: "The season has been tough on the whole squad.