Foster believes new-look Dons can be Scotland's third force

AFTER finishing fourth last season, Aberdeen have been among the busiest operators in the transfer market over the summer, saying goodbye to established names such as Jackie McNamara and Barry Nicholson and welcoming replacements such as Mark Kerr and Charlie Mulgrew. Time will tell whether this new squad is better than the old one, but one member of it is sure the changes have produced no drop in quality.

"They've maybe made the team stronger defensively, and not quite so strong in attack," Richard Foster says. "But the standard in training is still the same as it was."

Foster himself has been known for his versatility in recent seasons, and has often been used for man-marking roles because of his speed. Now, however, with the ending of Alan Maybury's loan spell at Pittodrie, he has a real chance of establishing himself at right-back. "It's never set in stone," he reckons.

"It depends on who the manager sees is in the best form at training and in matches. This manager likes players who can play in a range of positions, and I'll be happy to play anywhere I can. Ideally I'd like to settle into one position. At the moment that could be right-back."

Stewart McKimmie, Aberdeen's right-back during the glory days of the 1980s, predicted recently that Foster could become a regular in the position for country as well as club. The player brushes off the compliment as flattering but premature, arguing that he could not afford to look so far ahead.

"Obviously every player wants to play for his country, and I'm no different," the 23-year-old says. "It's always been my ambition to play for Scotland. But realistically I've got to play well for Aberdeen before I can think of that."

And if he and his colleagues play well consistently, Foster knows Aberdeen are in with a shout of third place in the SPL. "We've finished third before and if we'd won at Motherwell last season we'd have been third again. Splitting the Old Firm is unrealistic, but there are a few teams in the running for third place.

"Motherwell were the most consistent last season, which is why they finished third. But I think a good start is just as important as consistency. We've got to begin this campaign better."

• Aberdeen yesterday completed the signing of Tommy Wright from Darlington. The striker, 23, has penned a three-year-deal with the Pittodrie club, but is recovering from a knee injury and is unlikely to feature in today's SPL opener against Inverness.