Dons boss says rookie has shown he's finally ready for first-team run

KJARTAN Mar Kjartansson has finally forced his way into the Aberdeen team - and boss Jimmy Thelin reckons he's now in a position to stay there.

- BY SCOTT BURNS

The Red Army have been clamouring for the 19-year-old Icelander to get more game time.

Kjartansson - rated as one of the top midfielders in his age group in Europe - has had to show an enormous amount of patience since his summer move from Stjarnan.

He finally got the chance to make his Premiership debut last weekend, coming off the bench at Celtic Park, where he set up Kenan Bilalovic for his goal.

Thelin said: “You need to improve your skills. Where is the press? Should I turn left or right? Where is the free space? And also the physicality.

“Some leagues are different, how much they allow.

“T think Kjartan has adapted. Sometimes it takes two months, sometimes it takes one year, but this adaptation time is the thing.

“He is showing now in the training sessions that he is more ready.