
Ester Sokler hands Aberdeen fresh injury blow as Jimmy Thelin denied full clean bill of health ahead of run-in
The striker was absent from Saturday's Scottish Cup semi final victory against Hearts
Luckless Aberdeen star Ester Sokler is sweating over a fresh injury.
The Slovenian suffered an injury in training last week and Jimmy Thelin and his medical team are waiting to find out the full extent of it.
The timing is a major blow for Sokler and the Dons.
Aberdeen are now gearing up for the biggest six games of the season.
They open up their top six fixtures against Hibs in the fight for the third place.
The Dons then have the Scottish Cup final against Celtic
Sokler started the season well with five goals in seven games in the Premier Sports Cup.
It looked like he might be the man to replace Bojan Miovski but Kevin Nisbet quickly emerged as the Dons' top striker.
Sokler's season was then disrupted by a hamstring injury at Ross County in January.
The forward came back against St Johnstone and came off the bench in the last four games before this latest setback.
Sivert Nilsen is also waiting to see if he will be fit to return before the end of the season.
The midfielder suffered an eye injury and is waiting for further talks with a specialist.
Nilsen has missed the last five games because of the issue.
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Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
Soccer Aid's Martin Compston's professional football career before he left for acting
The Scots Line of Duty star is starring in the Soccer Aid line-up, however, this isn't the first time he's laced up his football boots... Before he was a huge star in the likes of Line of Duty and Mayflies, Martin Compston was actually a professional footballer. The Scots actor is mostly known for playing a waistcoat wearing DS Steve Arnott in the hit BBC drama. The 41-year-old, is set to play Soccer Aid at Old Trafford this evening in the Rest of the World against England, with former Italy star Leonardo Bonucci among his team-mates. He's not the only Scots actor on his team either, as Baby Reindeer star Richard Gadd is also set to take on England. However, before Celtic daft Compston turned to acting, he was actually a pro footballer. In his early football career, he had stints with Aberdeen and Morton. The Greenock-born star even played two senior matches for Morton at the end of the 2001/02 season, but without much success. His first appearance resulted in a 4-0 defeat against Alloa Athletic, while his second – another 4-0 defeat, this time against Queen of the South – saw Morton relegated from the Scottish Second Division. Speaking on his pal Si Ferry's famous football podcast, Open Goal, Compston opened up about his brief football career. He explained that he was first spotted while playing in a Scottish underage cup final against a Celtic side which included future Man Utd star Darren Fletcher. After a stint with his hometown club, he was signed by Aberdeen where he played alongside future Premier League star Dean Windass. Compston even captained the Aberdeen youth team for a short period, but the actor knew when his time was up at the club. He told Si: "I remember I was captain at a game and one of the top scouts came down, and we got beat off an East Kilbride select, I went, 'That's that f*****!'" After his time at Aberdeen, Compston found himself back at Morton in the Scottish Second Division. "It just wasn't a good time to be at the club," the actor admitted. "They'd just gone down to the second division and we were struggling. "It was a mad time. We were full-time the YTS [Youth Team Scholarship] players. There was only three or four of us cleaning 40 pairs of boots and cleaning the stadium. "The first team were coming in training at night. There was a lot of hanging about. I felt more like a cleaner than a football player. "I made my debut when I was 17," Compston recalled. "We were away to Alloa. I knew they were only going to pitch me in if we were well up or well down. "I felt terrible, Alloa were winning 2-0 with 40 minutes left and they put a third one in and I was like, 'You beauty.' "The last game of the season, we had to win to stay up and we were playing Queen of the South who had to win to win the league. It was a sell-out, 14,000. The atmosphere was unbelievable." The day didn't go to plan however, he added: "There was some b******... at half-time, I knew I was going on. So I'm spraying balls about. "It smashed somebody and he's run on and rugby tackled me. The stewards were just all laughing. It was nerve-wracking. It was Scottish second division football but it's like, 'You've done that.'" Compston began acting during his football career after he bagged a lead role in Ken Loach's film 'Sweet Sixteen' while still with Morton. "It worked out perfect," Compston explained. "I'd just finished my exams and I'd got my Morton contract. The auditions were at the end of the year. "I went to [Morton manager] Peter Cormack and asked if it was alright to miss a couple of days of pre-season. We filmed it in the close season. He said, 'You're a fit boy, you'll be fine.' I finished filming and went back to Greenock Morton. "I remember being gutted because in the programme notes, the players were asked who's their favourite actor and not one of them said me. I thought one of them, for a joke, would throw my name in there!" Despite Loach being impressed by Compston's acting ability, the director advised him to keep in at his football career. He decided against Loach's advice and auditioned for a Heartbeat spin-off called The Royal. He had been sent the wrong script but still got the part and from then on his mind was set. "That was a big wake-up call," Compston said. "They don't know who I am. They hadn't seen Sweet Sixteen. To get that, I said, 'OK, I'm alright at this.' "Morton weren't going through the best of times. I was driving up the road one day, passing Cappielow [Greenock Morton's stadium] and I just went in and said [to manager Dave McPherson], 'I think I'm going to give this acting a crack.' He said, 'Sorry to lose you,' but I didn't find it too hard to be honest." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.


Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Celtic tick all the boxes for Benjamin Nygren as Sweden star outlines exactly what he wants at next club
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) BENJAMIN NYGREN craves a big club with a huge support who fill a noisy stadium every week. He wants to fight for trophies, play under pressure and get a crack at Champions League football. Sign up for the Celtic newsletter Sign up 4 Benjamin Nygren speaking to WTV in Sweden Credit: WTV 4 He addressed his future in football 4 He's closing in on a move to Celtic Credit: Alamy If only there was a club out there that could offer him all of that Nygren didn't name Celtic as he spoke candidly about his ideal next step just two weeks ago. But the Sweden star couldn't have dropped any bigger hints that the Hoops are the perfect club for him. SunSport has unearthed a YouTube interview where Nygren outlined his wishes as he prepares to quit Nordsjaelland. The 23-year-old would have been aware that Celtic were watching him closely as he talked on a Swedish channel. And it appears the Hoops will tick every single box as he closes in on a £2million move to Parkhead. Asked why he is ready to move on, Nygren said: 'I want to go to a bigger club. 'I want to play in the Champions League and I want to get as far as possible in my career. 'We have been in agreement for some time about me leaving in this window. I feel it's time. 'I want to go to a club that has extreme belief in me and has a clear plan for me. The diggers move in as Celtic Park pitch is dug up 'But also a big club that plays in the best tournaments in Europe. 'At club level, the Champions League is the biggest competition you can play in. 'Nordsjaelland is a very family-orientated club and it can be quiet in the stands. 'That is good in a way maybe but I think it's a lot of fun when there are a lot of fans. 'It's more fun to play when it's a full stadium, where there are a lot of supporters and there is a lot of pressure. 'That is what I like the most.' Nygren has been a revelation in Danish football for the last two years and is now a full Sweden cap. He scored 16 goals for the Superliga side last season and already has two in just four appearaneces for the national team. But he believes there is even more to come from him and wants to play under a manager who truly believes in him. Benjamin Nygren's career 2013 (youth level) - 2019: IFK Goteborg - 15 games (six goals, five assists) 2019 - 2022: Genk - seven games (one goal) 2020 - 2022: Heerenveen (loan) - 51 games (seven goals, six assists) 2022 --: Nordsjaelland - 107 games (35 goals, eight assists) Celtic gaffer Brendan Rodgers has a track record for developing players in his attacking midfield position. Tom Rogic, Stuart Armstrong, Ryan Christie and Matt O'Riley all blossomed under his guidance at Parkhead. Nygren could be the next to work with Rodgers and the versatile playmaker has vowed to keep working at his game. He said: 'Being able to play in different positions is a strength for me. 'I know that I can contribute a lot to teams and also help make people get the best out of their own qualities. 'I believe in my abilities and I think I am good at creating chances and finishing when I get them myself.' Nygren will always be grateful to Nordsjaelland for the way they helped revive his career after a £4m move to Genk in 2019 didn't work. The Danish side offered him a platform to show his qualities again after being tipped as Sweden's next big thing as a kid. Nygren has taken that chance and also given a lot back to Nordsjaelland, and captained the team last season. Yet he admits he has now outgrown the club, who focus on developing talent as opposed to winning trophies. He said: 'I would definitely say it's a good environment to develop. 4 'We have a lot of young players. 'Generally, in the last ten games of the season, we had three or four 18-year-olds in the starting line-up. 'That's not very common so it's a platform to learn and develop. 'This is a club that has a lot of eyes on it, but which also maintains a very high level and is a top-five club in Denmark in principle every year. 'Nordsjaelland's highest goal is not to win the league, but to play with young talents to sell. 'It is a selling club and it becomes difficult to compete for the titles when you sell your best players all the time. 'But that doesn't affect my motivation. Wherever I play, even if nobody is watching, I want to win.' Nygren also has an eye on next summer's World Cup after recently breaking into the Sweden squad. Jon Dahl Tomasson's side face Switzerland, Kosovo and Slovenia in their qualifying group and are favourites to progress. Nygren is desperate to stay in his national squad and playing at a high level in Europe for Celtic would boost his chances. Speaking to Wenstrom Television, he said: 'The World Cup is the biggest thing there is. 'It is one of my highest goals to get there during my career. 'It was extremely fun to get into the Sweden squad and score my first goal. 'That is something I have been dreaming about for a long time. 'I have fought very hard each day to reach that level in my career. 'I felt I was getting closer and closer, and it fun to be called up and play for the national team. 'To make my debut and starting debut and score my first goal was a dream.' Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page


Daily Record
3 hours ago
- Daily Record
Burning Celtic rumour blown apart as 3 key transfers Brendan Rodgers wants dissected by insider
Our man Michael Gannon takes you inside the three big transfers on the agenda at Celtic Park Benjamin Nygren, Callum Osmand, and a new left-back. It might not necessarily come in that order, but those are the three burning transfers on Celtic 's agenda as we speak. But our man Michael Gannon isn't quite buying everything he reads – particularly where the rising Fulham striker is concerned. Brendan Rodgers has made it clear he wants to freshen things up this summer and while Celtic fans may be used to playing the waiting game where summer signings are concerned, they've wasted no time this year. Kieran Tierney is already back in the door and two new forwards, in the shape of Nygren and Osmond, look set to after the window officially opens tomorrow. Versatile Sweden forward Nygren will solve a few problems for Rodgers if indeed a deal is struck and, speaking on tonight's Hotline Live, our man Gannon sees a few reasons it makes sense. He said: "There's question marks over Nicolas Kuhn. Is he looking to go? Will they try and cash in? "But if they can keep Kuhn and get him back playing how he was last season, and have Nygren as backup or competition and an option in midfield, it looks a good signing. "That's the right hand side of the pitch pretty much covered. If you look at the left side with Daizen Maeda – they're looking to bring in a striker, so that will free Maeda up to go back into that position. Hotline Live - 15 June 2025 "He had a brilliant season up front but I still think they'll buy a striker. Jota might be out until 2026 so it's an area they need to address. "Nygren can play both sides so he might be another option there. It's a good profile of signing because he can play right across the forward line and fill in those gaps at times, because there are a few gaps in there." Nygren will be asked to make an instant impact but that's not so much the case with 19-year-old Osmond. He may indeed nick Johnny Kenny's spot as the third-choice striker but those expecting a Moussa Dembele-esque explosion from the Fulham kid should park the breaks. "By all accounts it's pretty much sorted," Gannon said on Osmand. "The window isn't open officially until tomorrow, so all these deals will be rubber-stamped this week. "The word seems to be that he's not going to be a B-team player. But I'm not sure that's the case. He's not even a regular every week with the 21s at Fulham. He's played a lot of games in PL2, but you wouldn't even say he's a nailed-on guy at that level, so I think he has a bit to go until he's a first-team player. "Johnny Kenny got a wee taste of it last season, but I suspect he'll be getting a loan deal somewhere – he's got to play 25-30 games over the next 12 months which he's not going to get at Celtic. So he'll go on loan somewhere. If they can get him an English Championship loan deal, or even abroad, that would be perfect for him. "Osmand might take that third-choice spot. They could give him a year just to get used to his surroundings. There could be a loan deal beyond that, this is a long-term strategy. "He might come in, catch fire and become a superstar right away. But people are comparing him to Moussa Dembele – he was a first-team player at Fulham at that point. He was only 19 but he was a France U21 international, built like a tank with first-team football under his belt. It's not a comparison. "The only comparison is it's a cheap deal across the border, and the same clubs are involved. Other than that, they're completely different players." Providing he's fit, Kieran Tierney will start next season as Celtic's primary left-back, but the question marks over his fitness mean securing his deputy is key. Greg Taylor looks increasingly likely to leave and that leaves the Hoops in the awkward spot of recruiting someone good enough to step in for Tierney, without the guarantee of being a starter. Gannon said: "I think it's a tricky one. It's an awkward signing for Celtic, because it's not really a backup they're looking for, it's a job-share. But it's a hard sell. You're telling a player he's kind of going to be the second choice if Tierney is fit. "But you might play 25 games a season, because Tierney isn't going to play 90 minutes 55 games a season, at least in the short term. If he does, fair play, that would be great. But he's only played 90 minutes six times in two years. So there is going to be a big part to play for whoever comes in. So Celtic need to find someone who can play in these big Champions League games if needed, but also be on the sidelines. "You need to get a young guy to come in and compete for the place, or an experienced guy who can't play every week either to share the job. Getting a guy at 26 at his peak is going to be difficult."