RUSSELL ANDERSON was last night backed to stay Aberdeen's golden oldie for seasons to come.
The veteran skippered the Dons to a thumping 4-0 League Cup semi-final victory against St Johnstone on Saturday.
Now he has a cup final date to look forward to on March 16.
And delighted gaffer Derek McInnes feels the 35-year-old has shown this season that age is no barrier to success if you have the hunger and desire of a teenager.
The Dons boss said: "You could say it means a lot to a lot of people, but Russell especially.
"He knew going into the game that if he'd been booked he would have missed the final and I've been in that situation myself and it's not nice.
"For someone who has endured a lot at Aberdeen with very little success he deserves it.
"He's played a lot this year and a lot is made of his age.
"If a 35-year-old has a poor game it's down to his age but his performances have been at a real high level and he's a big influence.
"When you need defenders to do the right thing then more often than not he does it.
When asked if Anderson – now in his second spell back at Pittodrie after a troubled spell in England with Sunderland and Derby – can remain an influential player for the Dons, McInnes added: "Why not?
"We only have a couple of months to go to the end of this season and he's been very consistent and very good and while he can still influence our team he has a massive part to play.
"He wasn't alone in that today – we have a cup final to look forward to but it's important that Russell and everyone else keeps their focus for the next challenge.
All week Saints tried to pile the pressure on Aberdeen by pointing to the fact the Dons have not won a trophy since 1995 and have lost their last five national cup semi-finals.
McInnes is glad his players proved their point on the pitch, but argued that his team should not be weighed down by the baggage of history.
He said: "It's not on their shoulders and I re-iterate that all the time. You are in this game to be successful.
"When I became the boss here I did so in the belief that I could be successful.
"There must be the same thought process when a player joins us either signing from the youth system or from another club that when they sign there is a responsibility to be successful.
"They must have thought when they signed that they were here to win a trophy and do something.
"Hopefully that's the case for all of them.
"I've got good players and we have a good balance of squad. We have a lot of good types and we're grateful for that.