MR RED CHOPS

Stars face Euro play-off disappointment

- BY SCOTT BURNS

JIMMY THELIN had to take an axe to his squad ahead of Aberdeen's big European adventure.

The Pittodrie gaffer has had to leave some of his more experienced stars out of his squad for Thursday's Europa League playoff with FCSB because he can only register 17 players who do not qualify as being homegrown.

Crocks Kristers Tobers and Emmanuel Gyamfi will miss the playoff but others will have to be left out too.

But the Swede will be able to bring those who didn't make the cut for last night's 11pm deadline back in if the Dons see off the Romanians and reach the next stage.

Thelin said: "Right now we have one squad for the playoffs and then for the group stage we can change.

"The playoff is quite close so let's see if someone needs to be out or not."

Aberdeen's only regulars who meet the criteria of being homegrown are skipper Graeme Shinnie, Nicky Devlin, Fletcher Boyd and Jack Milne.