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Stephen Robinson backs Chris Cadden to win over Aberdeen doubters

· Scott Burns; Ruaraidh Britton · 2026-08-04 · nguồn gốc

Stephen Robinson backs Chris Cadden to win over Aberdeen doubters The former Hibs defender was handed his first league start for the Dons on Saturday evening, little over 24 hours from the announcement that he had become the 12th signing of the summer. Stephen Robinson has backed his latest Aberdeen recruit to win over his Pittodrie doubters after a promising debut in the late comeback against Hearts. Chris Cadden was handed his first league start for the Dons on Saturday evening, little over 24 hours from the announcement that he had become the 12th signing of the summer. He formed part of a backline playing together for the first time and all making their first Premiership outings for Aberdeen, with the quartet overcoming the Jambos. The Dons manager thinks some signings are downplayed by fans when they come from rival clubs, citing Cadden's arrival from Hibs and the signings of former Kilmarnock duo Brad Lyons and Lewis Mayo. Robinson accepts that fans much prefer foreign imports, but insisted that right-back Cadden is still in the best years of his career, writes Record Sport. He said: "He’s had a fantastic career and he's still right in the prime of his career. That's what we have to remember. So I'm delighted to get him. "When people come from other clubs in the Scottish Premiership, you're maybe not appreciated as much. As with Brad and Lewis, they came and expectations were low and then you realise how good of players they are. "This will be exactly the same with Chris. When people come from abroad or England, they're (viewed as) fantastic players and most people have never seen them kick a ball. "So that's the world we live in. I'm delighted with Chris." Aberdeen paid a fee to sign Cadden, and the big thing for Robinson was that his latest recruit was desperate to come to the Granite City. He didn’t want to sit on the bench and just pick up his money. Cadden made a positive start as the Dons marked his debut with a late 2-1 win over Hearts at the weekend. "That's the big thing for me," the Northern Irishman insisted. "We're in a society where a lot of people are quite happy just to sit on the bench and not play football. "Chris could have sat at a very good club like Hibs and fought for a place there. But he wanted to come and play. He wanted to play regular football. "We're not guaranteeing he plays every week, but he's coming with the intention to play. I know everything I'm getting from him. "That desire and that enthusiasm to be an Aberdeen Football Club player is what we have to be recruiting - not people that are doing us a favour to come and play for the club." Robinson - who was delighted with the comeback win over Hearts - knows exactly what he is getting with the Scotland international. He was his manager as Cadden was coming through at Motherwell. Since then he has been at Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer, Oxford United on-loan and has been at Hibs for the past five years. Robinson insisted: "Aye, he's a lot older. I think Cad's might have been 17, 18 when he had his debut at Motherwell. "He was a right winger. A very young right winger. But a kid that I've always kept in touch with. Somebody I've really admired as he went to America. He went to England. "He's a fantastic boy. His enthusiasm, the culture that he creates at the football club, that's exactly what I want here. "I'm getting exactly what it says on the tin - an experienced SPL player who's in the prime of his career, that'll deliver crosses. Loads of pace, loads of energy and a fantastic boy around the football club.” Cadden will also offer versatility right up that right hand side. His managed admitted: "He's played right back, he's played right wing back. He can play right of a front three. "So his versatility is fantastic for him. He's played right of a back three as a centre-half as well at times. So he's very, very versatile. "In certain games where we may have to double up in certain areas and we have a more defensive winger, so to speak, in front of us that can do the due diligence in terms of defensive stuff as well. He certainly adds lots of options to the squad." Aberdeen will look to keep their 100% record going when they travel to Dundee this weekend.