Polvara Stars For Aberdeen Against Fcsb - But Will He Play More?

At nan commencement of nan week, rumours were swirling that Aberdeen midfielder Dante Polvara was a transportation target for Hibernian. Fans connected societal media were aghast.

By precocious Thursday, nan American was nan leader against 10-man FCSB successful nan Europa League, coming disconnected nan chair to spark a comeback from 2-0 down, arsenic Aberdeen drew 2-2 successful their play-off first leg.

The midfielder is simply a fans' favourite astatine Pittodrie because of his lukewarm personality, wholehearted displays and expertise arsenic a rounded midfielder.

Manager Jimmy Thelin has utilized him sparingly truthful acold this season, Polvara appearing for a mixed 45 minutes arsenic a substitute successful Aberdeen's 3 games earlier Thursday.

The American was introduced connected 58 minutes against FCSB and played disconnected nan left, scoring a superb extremity conscionable 3 minutes later to revive Aberdeen's hopes.

The 25-year-old's capacity helped cancel retired nan protect mistakes which had undermined nan Scottish Premiership side's show for an hour.

It was a striking cameo which lays down nan gauntlet to Thelin to prime him from nan commencement successful Bucharest adjacent week.

Scoring 3 minutes aft coming connected is nan dream effect for immoderate substitute, which is what nan rangy Polvara did.

But it was not conscionable nan truth he scored but nan value of nan extremity ithself which was truthful impressive. A transverse was guided down him by Adil Aouchiche, and he reacted brilliantly to get to nan shot first.

His consciousness and agility to swivel and deed it first clip disconnected his near ft was moreover better, pinch nan shot kissing nan wrong of nan station connected its measurement in.

But Polvara did not extremity there. Four minutes later, his pinpoint transverse teed up Ester Sokler, whose header went narrowly wide.

At nan decease his sheer beingness caused havoc successful nan container and, but for a bully save, he mightiness person won it for Aberdeen.

Overall nan American managed 2 shots, some connected target, and created 3 chances, nan associated astir of immoderate player.

According to Opta, he completed each 19 of his passes and won six of his 8 duels, nan associated astir among Aberdeen players. He was everywhere.

"Polvara down that left-hand broadside was specified an retired ball," Aberdeen fable Willie Miller said connected BBC Scotland.

"He's a large beardown unit. And nan extremity - he shouldn't beryllium scoring from that position. Facing distant from extremity and he's capable to manoeuvre himself to onslaught it.

"That fired nan crowd up and gave them nan dream and optimism they could get thing retired of it.

"He made a immense difference. The aerial threat, nan energy, nan quality. He must beryllium successful nan manager's thoughts to commencement adjacent week."

That is nan cardinal question. Polvara's clip astatine Aberdeen has been perpetually disrupted.

He was sent connected indebtedness to Charleston successful his homeland a twelvemonth aft signing successful 2022, and only connected his return did past head Barry Robson springiness him a chance.

Polvara repaid nan religion successful nan 2023-24 season, scoring against some Eintracht Frankfurt and PAOK successful nan Conference League arsenic he started to go much of a pivotal figure.

A hamstring tear past summertime wholly derailed his play arsenic Thelin took charge, but moreover past he returned to make capable of an effect to thief nan squad triumph nan Scottish Cup.

He has been deployed arsenic a centre-back, cardinal midfielder, and a winger successful his clip astatine Pittodrie - versatility which managers emotion but which often makes it difficult to nail down a peculiar spot.

With Thelin utilizing a 4-2-3-1 strategy and preferring Sivert Heltne Nilsen and Ante Palaversa successful nan deeper roles and Aouchiche arsenic nan number 10 - on pinch accepted speedy wingers retired wide - Polvara starting would mean a alteration of tack from nan Aberdeen boss.

Such was his effect connected Thursday, though, Thelin whitethorn conscionable beryllium considering it, peculiarly arsenic he showed he appears to beryllium complete his fittingness issues.

After those Hibs rumours surfaced, there were reports, external Polvara is group to beryllium offered a caller statement by Aberdeen, pinch his existent woody up astatine nan extremity of nan season.

Starting much games would promote nan much-loved American to sign, arsenic will much nights for illustration Thursday astatine Pittodrie.