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Topi's flying after break... even if Finn didn't want one

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TOPI KESKINEN couldn't help but feel frustrated when boss Jimmy Thelin hit the brakes on a marathon run of matches.

But the Finn believes he is now hitting top gear again on return - just like "consistent right-back Nicky Devlin, who Thelin has backed to chase down a World Cup dream with Scotland.

Keskinen has served up a couple of assists and a winning goal in his last three games - his sole strike of the season earning Aberdeen all three points against Premiership leaders Hearts at Pittodrie 10 days ago.

Thelin knows Keskinen has played a considerable number of games, having come off a season in his homeland and straight into a Scottish one in August of last year.

This summer's Under-21 Euros then kiboshed any plans for a lengthy break.

The 22-year-old dropped out of Thelin's XI - a source of frustration for the man himself - for a month but has started two of the Dons' last three while coming off the bench in victory at Livingston three days ago.

Thelin had claimed Keskinen needed a rest, albeit that belief wasn't necessarily shared.

"No... I don't think so," said the winger. "I want to play football and was not exhausted.