Andrew Considine vows Aberdeen will top Rangers

Andrew Considine is confident Aberdeen will outdo Rangers next season. Picture: John Devlin

Instead the Dons defender is convinced Aberdeen will remain Celtic’s closest challengers for the title next season despite the Ibrox club’s return to the top flight following a four-year exile.

Aberdeen’s longest-serving player knows their supporters have enjoyed Rangers’ troubled route back, a result of a  bitter rivalry second only to the Old Firm in the Scottish game which led to problems on and off the park in the past.

However, Considine for one has missed the highly charged meetings between the teams and is looking forward to the chance of renewing hostilities for the first time since a 1-1 draw at Ibrox back in January 2012.

He said:“With Rangers coming back in it is going to be a very hard league next year. We are looking forward to it.

“I think we will certainly put them in their place when they come back up in the league.

“Personally, I think it is a fantastic occasion when Rangers come up here or we go down there. You hear a lot of people saying it is great that they are out of the league but if you ask a lot of people they would be delighted to have them back.

“Bringing back that atmosphere and the Old Firm games is great for Scottish football.

“It is like European nights here when Rangers and Celtic come up. It is a great thing to be a part of.

“It has been great for Aberdeen as a club and a city that we have managed to stay within touching distance of Celtic for a good part of the season. It was similar last season. It has been another cracking season. You would like to think we are a force to be reckoned with again.

“That is something the manager has always wanted. It is a good thing to be part of and long may it continue.”