ABERDEEN FC are likely to be seeded in the first qualifying round of the Europa League next season.

The Dons’ current coefficient of 4.580 is among the highest ranked teams who have already qualified for the competition.

While many clubs are still to qualify from a number of countries, a UEFA spokesman told the Evening Express that the Pittodrie club were in a “strong” position to be among the seeded sides for the draw in Nyon, Switzerland on June 22.

That could mean avoiding the likes of Norway’s Rosenborg and Stromsgodset, Sweden’s IFK Goteborg and Shamrock Rovers of Ireland.

It would also mean starting the campaign at home on Thursday, July 2 with the away leg seven days later.

Aberdeen are currently 285th in the UEFA rankings.

Their exploits this season earned them 1.800 coefficient points.

Last year, they were seeded for the first qualifying round and started the Euro adventure against FK Daugava Riga – thumping them 8-0 on aggregate.

They were, however, unseeded for the next stage where they met Dutch outfit FC Groningen.

But Derek McInnes’ side defied the odds and won 2-1 at the Euroborg to set up a glamour tie with Real Sociedad.

It was the La Liga side who ended Aberdeen FC’s Europa League run in the third qualifying round, with a 5-2 aggregate win.