Jonny Hayes & Andrew Considine commit to Aberdeen

Jonny Hayes is now contracted until 2018. Picture: Ian Rutherford

Hayes, 27, signed a contract extension which will see him remain with the Dons until the summer of 2018, while defender Considine, also 27, who is in his testimonial year with the Pittodrie club, has penned a two-and-a-half year extension that sees him remain with his home town team until the summer of 2017.

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After Adam Rooney, Niall McGinn, Lawrence Shankland and Scott McKenna extended their contracts last week, Dons manager Derek McInnes is pleased that two more key players have been secured.

He told the club’s official website: “Both Jonny and Andy have shown a great deal of consistency and a high level of performance and I’m delighted they both see their future at this club, which is striving to deliver success.”

Meanwhile, Scottish bookmakers McBookie.com have cut Aberdeen’s title odds from 20-1 to 14-1 after beating Inverness Caledonian Thistle on Sunday.

The Dons have also been cut to 10-11 in the race to finish second and McBookie.com spokesman Paul Petrie said: “With Aberdeen just two points behind Celtic, many are asking if they are realistic title contenders. The odds probably suggest not but it could certainly be closer than we thought at the start of the season.”

Celtic are 14-1 on to win the SPFL Premiership.

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