JACK MacKENZIE is set to shake off his head wounds to make Aberdeen’s Scottish Cup final squad.
The Dons defender’s face was sickeningly sliced open by a flying seat allegedly chucked by one of the club’s own fans after their weekend loss at Tannadice.
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MacKenzie, 25, needed stitches and was carted away in a wheelchair with his head heavily bandaged, only inches away from potentially losing an eye.
But the full-back, set to leave Pittodrie after the final, has returned to training and is winning his race to make the trip to Hampden to face Celtic with Jimmy Thelin’s squad.
The Dons gaffer said: “Jack is doing well. He was on the pitch today training with the team so he’s OK.
“It was important for him to be involved. Of course he has some restrictions, heading the ball with the stitches.
“But he was training well. Was he lucky? Yes, it was on his head so it was good it didn’t hit him in the eye.
“We are trying to move on from the incident and look forward to the good things.”
A Dons fan accused of throwing the seat appeared in court on Wednesday and if found guilty faces a lifetime ban from Pittodrie.
Thelin branded the incident “unacceptable” after the game and his view hasn’t changed.
But he’s launched a staunch defence of the Red Army as a whole as 25,000 prepare to head to Glasgow this weekend.
Thelin added: “Always, the safety of the players in every working place has to be secure.
“But in general, the passion and support from our supporters all season has been amazing.
“This was an incident, but if you see how much they put their life into the club, it’s incredible.
“Incidents should not happen, but they happen in all areas of life.
“It was our time to be involved in one but, in general, if you see the whole it’s an incredible support.”
Dons head to Glasgow having lost their last four games against the Treble-chasing Hoops.
In the five games they’ve played so far, the aggregate score is 19-4.
Thelin knows for that to change, he’ll have to come up with something different — and the 47-year-old is plotting a tactical plan to surprise the Celts.
He said: “They have won the last games, so of course we always adjust.
“In the league you’re trying to build for the long term and improve things. Some moments of the games have been good.
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“Of course we know there are areas we need to help each other better in other moments of the game.
“There will be small adjustments — you will see on Saturday.”
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