Aberdeen have an incredible incentive to make it 10 successive wins at the start of this season when they take on Motherwell this Saturday at Pittodrie.
With an out-of-sorts Hearts facing a daunting trip to Celtic Park and Rangers visiting in-form Dundee United the day after, the Dons could find themselves eight points clear of Phillipe Clement’s team and 14 ahead of the Tynecastle side after just five Premiership matches, which would be pretty remarkable even at this early stage.
The top three right now has a distinct 1980s feel about it with Aberdeen and their old tangerine rivals from down the road heading the pursuit of Celtic.
Three of Jimmy Thelin’s next four matches are at home, including the League Cup quarter-final against The Spartans, so the momentum Aberdeen have under the Swede could be going like a train by the time they run into last season’s top three in October if this run continues.
Thelin’s squad was unexpectedly increased during the international break with the return of the previously missing Duk. The 24-year-old’s absence since pre-season was shrouded in mystery but he has returned to the club with an apology to the supporters who will be more forgiving if the player can return to full fitness and make an impact.
You would imagine it will take some time for the the Cape Verde international to endear himself to the manager let alone getting the fans that used to love watching his exploits, but who have been enraged by his self-imposed exile, back onside.
However, in the event that Duk returns with the right attitude, forces himself into the reckoning and gets back to the form he showed in his first season at the club, where he matched Bojan Miovski’s 18 goals, he could yet prove to be a trump card for Thelin in what is the last year of his contract.
That scenario would benefit the club and the player himself given he will want to attract suitors who will perhaps have had their eyebrows raised by his summer antics and disappearance.
Regardless, the Dons boss, who will also have the injured Leighton Clarkson back in the team soon, knows the prize for a win this weekend could be a pretty spectacular lead over some of their main rivals for league positions come the end of the campaign.