ABERDEEN manager Derek McInnes admits he may have a fight on his hands to keep a hold of his star players when the transfer window reopens in January.

The Dons' star trio of Scott McKenna, Lewis Ferguson and Sam Cosgrove are key players in McInnes' side - and the Aberdeen boss is bracing himself for bids in the next window.

McInnes told the Daily Record: "Lewis is a natural central midfielder and was outstanding against Hibs.

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"I spoke to him after the Hibs game. It wasn’t a reckless challenge but it was mistimed.

"He was in midfield on his own putting out fires left, right and centre and he was maybe over-eager to make a challenge.

"I’m not going to be too critical of him but his absence adds to an already difficult situation.

"When you look at value in the team in terms of assets I would say McKenna, Cosgrove and Ferguson are exactly that.

"In terms of what they give to me on a Saturday, I’ve had that value from them regularly.

"January has always been a window where you have to react to the situation.

"I’d like us to be in January now and have the ability to deal with what’s to come but as a manager you have to be ready for situations all the time.

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"If you have a young, first-pick centre-half in McKenna, you expect people to see what we see and what Scotland manager Steve Clarke sees.

"Anybody who is doing any sort of recruitment at any level acknowledges there is a striker with size and ability in Cosgrove.

"I don’t worry about interest being shown in these players. I know if they fulfil their potential, their form and ability will take them elsewhere at some point."