Burns applauds Aitken

The Celtic manager Tommy Burns, yesterday applauded the achievements of his former team-mate, Roy Aitken, at Aberdeen this season prior to today's meeting at Parkhead.

The Dons reached their first final in three seasons on Tuesday when they beat Rangers in the Coca-Cola Cup semi-finals. "I have nothing but admiration for the job which Roy and Tommy Craig are doing," said Burns, who was Aitken's colleague at Parkhead in the 1980s. Roy took over at a very difficult time, but I didn't have any doubts at all that he would turn it around."