DEREK McInnes believes that Aberdeen clinching second place in the Ladbrokes Premiership yesterday has silenced the critics and rival players who expected his team to get pushed aside by Rangers’ return to the top flight.

It would take an outlandish 22-goal swing now for the Pittodrie side to be deprived of their third successive second-place finish and the Aberdeen manager celebrated the moment by making his point to members of the Ibrox side’s playing staff who felt sure that they would be Celtic’s main challengers this season.

Having reached the Betfred Cup final earlier this season, Aberdeen still have a William Hill Scottish Cup final to look to as they bid to make it an even better season.

“I think we have had a lot of question marks put against us,” said McInnes. “Every other week people were saying that Rangers would finish second, and that we would get pushed aside. Every other week a different Rangers player was getting rolled out in the press, and saying something similar. We kept quiet and did our work. And I think today, reaching 70 points and getting the three points, and hopefully taking a big step to getting second spot, shows how much good work we are doing in the club.

“We should give ourselves a minute to reflect on what has been a fantastic season, but it will hopefully get better in the next two or three weeks.”

What bad news there was for Aberdeen yesterday came in the revelation that captain Ryan Jack’s status to play in the cup final is already said to be “touch and go”. The 25-year-old has a tear in his groin which will require rest and recovery and time is running out for a match which will take place at Hampden on May 27. It is a worry, I can’t pretend otherwise,” said McInnes, who also lost Peter Pawlett to injury. “Jacko usually recovers quite well and the medical staff are quite positive that he will reach the final, but it will be touch and go.”

With Aberdeen also scheduled to face Celtic at Pittodrie in the Premiership this Friday, McInnes admitted he was at the horns of a selection dilemma. As much as the club’s supporters would love to land the psychological blow of ending Celtic’s unbeaten domestic record, it may be deemed more important to ensure all his players have the requisite amount of playing time come Scottish Cup final day. I think we have got closer to them in the last couple of games,” he said. “Everybody remembers the cup final and I understand that. We were a shadow of ourselves and it was far too simplistic for Celtic on the day.

“It is whether we go with the team we think will play in the cup final or we go with a team that we just think will get the job done. We need to make sure players get some game time with the final in mind.”

Although almost certainly finishing behind Aberdeen, Rangers managed to secure their Europe League slot for next season yesterday with a win over Partick Thistle.