Jamie Langfield to make Aberdeen return as Jason Brown seeks post-cup lift

GOALKEEPER Jamie Langfield is set to make his Aberdeen return in today’s Clydesdale Bank Premier League trip to Inverness, 11 months after a brain seizure.

Langfield’s only competitive action so far this term has been while on loan at Forfar, but he is set to displace Wales international Jason Brown for this afternoon’s fixture.

His manager Craig Brown said: “Jamie Langfield will play in goal. He has been patiently waiting and he has done well in the practice games we have arranged. I would emphasise that even if Jason had kept a clean sheet last weekend Jamie would still have played on Saturday.”

Langfield, who is out of contract this summer, watched from the substitutes’ bench as his team-mates were defeated 2-1 by Hibs in the William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final last weekend.

Brown, who cut a dejected figure after that game, says his players are determined to put the game behind them and finish the season on a high despite many fans regarding the campaign as over. Aberdeen trail seventh-placed Kilmarnock by one point as they bid to finish top of the bottom half of the standings.

“We are not going to let the season peter out – we want to finish with a flourish,” Brown added. “There was a lot of depression and despondency in the squad but that has cleared, training is bright, everyone’s up for the remaining five fixtures and we are determined to finish as high as possible in the bottom half of the league.”

Inverness goalkeeper Jonny Tuffey is playing for his future as the Highlanders also look to end the campaign on a high.

Today’s game sees 10th-placed Inverness take on the same opponents Tuffey faced after receiving a call-up 20 minutes before kick-off on 24 March following Ryan Esson’s groin injury in the warm-up. Esson is now nearing a return and Tuffey, who joined Inverness on a two-year deal in 2010, knows a strong performance could impress manager Terry Butcher enough for him to retain the starting spot and secure his future.

“I have to show what I can do,” said Tuffey, who has kept two clean sheets in the last four matches. “I’ve had a chat with the manager. The gaffer knows where I stand and I know where he stands.”