Boss McInnes hails cut-price bargain as Dons head to Burnley

Derek McInnes reckons Burnley’s millionaires will never forget being roughed up by Aberdeen’s bargain-basement striker Sam Cosgrove in the 1-1 draw at Pittodrie.

Now the Dons manager is hoping someone who cost less than most players’ weekly wage in the English Premier League can complete the job at Turf Moor.

McInnes failed in his desperate attempt to sign a striker in time for the Europa League qualifier and had to go with someone plucked from Carlisle United’s reserves for £20,000.

Cosgrove didn’t disappoint with a display that rattled a team only Manchester City, Manchester United and Spurs conceded fewer goals than on their travels last season.

So much so that England cap James Tarkowski clattered the 21-year-old to concede the first-half penalty converted by Gary Mackay-Steven.

McInnes couldn’t be more delightd after a frustrating summer spent selling Adam Rooney to Salford City, while failing in attempts to get Doncaster’s John Marquis and Preston pair Eoin Doyle and Louis Moult.

The only way things could get better is if Cosgrove’s first competitive goal for the club was the winner on Thursday, to really give Burnley something to remember him by.

The Dons boss said: “Sam was 20 grand from Carlisle reserves, so we don’t want to put too much on him. But he is learning quickly.

“He was up against an England international in James Tarkowski, a Premier League player for the last few seasons and a brilliant operator at centre-back.

‘Sam did really well and the Burnley defenders in general will certainly remember having played against him.

‘He is getting better and better and was very important for us. Even on the sports science side of things we are physically getting him better.

‘We are getting him more equipped tactically and trying to fine tune his game, but what he has got is good raw materials.

‘He is no slouch, a good size and he just needs to be a wee bit cuter with his work at the right times, and see the importance of not just being a team player but getting among the goals.”

Of course, Sam Vokes’ late leveller means Aberdeen must score at least one goal to stay in the competition and make it to the third round of qualifying for a fifth-successive season.

That would mean a trip to Turkey to face Istanbul Basaksehir the following week, and McInnes is confident they will be heading to the ancient city by the Bosphorus.

It’s a belief gained through experience as the Dons have actually won more European ties on their travels than at Pittodrie during his time in charge.

Victories away to quality opposition like Rijeka, Groningen and Siroki Brijeg in recent seasons leaves McInnes convinced they can do likewise in Lancashire.

He added: “We have drawn the first leg at home before in Europe and gone on to win the second leg.

“We won at Celtic Park last season, a 1-0 victory in a high-pressure game, so these things can help us.

“Next week will be my 24th European tie as a manager ,and normally we have had to score away from home to get through.

“That’s where we are and we will take that challenge on. Hopefully we can be as good as we were in the good moments we had on Thursday.”