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Kevin Nisbet backed for Scotland recall as red-hot Aberdeen form will be hard for new boss to overlook Nisbet - who was last capped for his country in 2023 - already has nine goals to his name in all competitions this season Stephen Robinson reckons the new Scotland manager will find it hard to ignore Aberdeen’s free-scoring captain Kevin Nisbet. The skipper took his tally to nine goals with a brace in the Dons’ convincing Premier Sports Cup win over Dundee. Belgian Sebastien Pocognoli is the front-runner to replace Steve Clarke. Robinson knows it would be very hard to look beyond Aberdeen’s main man when it comes to goals. The Aberdeen boss claimed: "With that sort of scoring rate, it's hard to overlook him. It's hard to ignore when you keep scoring goals. "It's the one thing Northern Ireland and Scotland don't have. They don't have goal scorers. "Obviously, Lawrence (Shankland) scored a lot of goals last year and has done. But I see Kevin in the same mode as him. "He's clinical. He's got quality as well and is a quality footballer. And he's led the team really well. "Hence why I've made him captain. "So, it would be no surprise to me if he was certainly the new manager, thinking whoever that may be. Especially in that centre-forward area.” Nisbet hit 11 goals last season but has taken his game to new heights since being named skipper. His manager added: “I think, what, did he get 11 goals all last season? Since I came here, when we were in trouble, in my opinion, when I came here, real trouble, Kevin stood up to be counted. "You get a lot of criticism, but he's got broad shoulders. He takes that as a striker. "You'll miss chances, you'll play poorly but we always know he's going to score goals. And he's proved that again. "Two great finishes and that's why I leave him on the pitch a lot.” Mitchy Ntelo also marked his debut with a goal. "He was clinical, Robinson beamed. We changed a little bit at half-time and put Mitchy right through the middle and Toi slightly wider. "As we thought Toi might give us that penetration in behind. Mitchy was very clever in those areas. And he showed how clinical he is. "So a great way to start if you're a striker and to score a goal in your debut. It was a big ask of me to throw him in because he's trained three days. "And he's done a pre-season with no real games. He played against Basel and scored two goals four weeks ago. " So I'm really pleased with him. Again, not the finished article. "He'll get better and better as the week goes on. "He's a very good footballer and adds that little bit of pace and quality in any of the areas that we can play him in.” It was the perfect reaction to last weekend’s loss at Dundee in the league, which left Robinson in the firing line. Robinson claimed: “I’m my own biggest critic. My job is to stay calm. “My job is to not get too high when we win like today or not get too low when we lose and that's what's happened at Aberdeen for too long. Boom and bust. “As I said, everything wasn't wrong. We've won 5 out of 6 before today. “We've now won 6 out of 7. I know the focus will not ever get that. “The positivity will never be put through because that sells better, so it's my job to make sure you remain calm when you pick the team. “Wholesale changes weren't needed, which proved in the performance and result and when we win games, the same. “There's lots of things that need improved and still will improve.” Robinson and his team can now look forward to the quarter-final draw.