Aberdeen boss confident game at Motherwell will be on

Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes has sympathy for Motherwell counterpart Mark McGhee as he struggles to find enough fit players from his virus-hit squad - but he would be shocked if their trip to Fir Park was postponed.

McGhee revealed on Thursday morning that the club might have to request Saturday's Premiership game be called off if even more players are struck down by a flu-type bug.

But McInnes is not expecting the Scottish Professional Football League to agree to any potential application.

"It won't affect the way we prepare for it but it's just been brought to my attention that Motherwell have a few problems," McInnes said.

"It's very rare that it hits a club like that. I remember it happened once at St Johnstone and we were really concerned going into the game.

"Hopefully it blows over and there's enough players to take us on.

"It's very unusual for the league to postpone a game so I'm confident and think positive that the game will go ahead.

"But I have every sympathy for Mark as it happened to myself before and it really ransacked the club, and we had to deal with it."

McInnes added: "We want the game on and I'm expecting the game to be on. I'd be very surprised. It's very unusual to cancel a game."