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'Squad depth utterly crucial to Aberdeen's success'

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[BBC]

BBC Sport Scotland chief sportswriter Tom English has been answering your questions.

Ross asked: How would you compare Aberdeen's squad depth to the rest of the league, including the Old Firm? As a fan, I cannot remember a stronger squad where substitutions are of such high quality and in form.

Tom answered: The squad is the best outside of the Old Firm, I think. Hearts have a good squad that will rouse itself sooner or later, but when you look closely at what Aberdeen have, they've got a lot of guys you can hang your hat on.

Sunday was the perfect example. They needed something off the bench and they got it in those pivotal seconds with Duk and Ante Palaversa. Kevin Nisbet scored a winner when coming on in previous weeks. Vicente Besuijen scored when coming on as well.

This is just the league I'm talking about. They're getting a really good return from their bench, which is utterly crucial. Obviously, that signals good depth.

Also, what I like is that they lost their main goalscorer in Bojan Miovski, then they lost Pape Gueye, who was flying. Two goalscorers down would destroy a lot of clubs, but they had Nisbet, who's really good and will only get better at Aberdeen.

Duk coming back is potentially significant. He offers something completely different if his head stays screwed on. They have a very, very settled team and squad. Avoid injuries to the defence and they're a banker bet for third at the end of the season.

I don't think the squad is deep enough as it is to challenge for second, but you never know, January might change that.

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[BBC]