The versatile Dons prospect with 'a skill very hard to teach'

While focus is on Aberdeen's transfers this close season, arguably one of their most intriguing bits of business has been midfielder Findlay Marshall signing a new contract.

Not so long ago, the academy graduate seemed destined for the Pittodrie exit.

But a standout season on loan at Championship side Arbroath, combined with the March appointment of Dons head coach Stephen Robinson, resulted in the 20-year-old putting pen to paper on a new deal that will keep him at Pittodrie until summer 2028.

And his old boss at Gayfield, Red Lichties co-manager David Gold, told BBC Scotland: "He has a skill that is very hard to teach.

"When you have got that skill, it can be implemented at a higher level as well and that is a real knack for getting in the right place at the right time. As a goalscoring opportunity, he gets them, he is always there, he is always in and around it.

"That is a credit to himself, he is fantastic at it, so I just think that is something he can really transfer to a higher level.

"He is always fit, he is robust, he looks after himself.

"It is not going to be easy for him, he will be under no illusion about that as well but if you are asking me can he grow to that level and really go and be a Scottish Premiership star? Then absolutely."

The season before last, Marshall enjoyed an impressive campaign in League 1 with Cove Rangers, scoring eight times in 38 appearances.

But it was in the second tier at Arbroath where he really caught the eye.

He established himself as a star performer at Arbroath, netting 15 goals in 47 games as the Gayfield team finished third.

Having seamlessly adapted to the challenge every time he has stepped up a level, he will be hoping to do so again by cementing his place in the Aberdeen first team.

And Gold said: "He is fantastic in terms of his ability on the ball, he is both sided, probably equally as strong as each other.

"He has a great temperament to the game, he is never too high, never too low. His attitude is absolutely fantastic and he wants to learn.

"We saw many different parts of his game. A lot of people will see Findlay for the goals he scored for us but he actually played five different positions for us across the midfield, so he showed a versatility for us as a player.

"He has got a good head on his shoulders to go and do really well and kick on in the future as well."