Aberdeen defender Richard Foster knows it will be no laughing matter if striker Lee Miller decides to quit the Dons this summer.Foster and his team-mates have been jokingly probing for a steer from Miller on his plans for next season, but they remain in the dark.

Miller is continuing to mull over the contract offer tabled by Aberdeen, who remain hopeful he will commit to staying at Pittodrie.

But with the 24-year-old's contract almost at an end, Foster realises 12-goal Miller could soon be a former Don and admits that would be a serious blow.

"We'll just wait and see. Everyone has a joke with him now and then, (about) whether he's staying or whether he's going," said Foster.

"If the contract's right for him and his family are happy here, then it's down to him.

"We have a laugh and a joke but it'll be him who decides and we won't be able to sway him.

"He's done really well for us this year, he gives us something different. He gives us an aerial threat.

"He has chipped in with a good few goals and his overall play helps us the way we play.

"I think he'll be a big loss to us if he goes."

Aberdeen have been strongly linked with a move for Dundee United's Mark Kerr.

Midfielder Kerr's contract at Dundee United expires in the coming weeks and Tangerines boss Craig Levein admits he will be powerless to prevent the 26-year-old leaving if he wishes to move on.

United are unaware of any moves for Kerr, however interested clubs would be entitled to go directly to the player given his contractual position.

Aberdeen's victory over United on Saturday has brought the gap from third place to sixth place down to just three points.

If the Dons defeat Motherwell at Fir Park on Saturday, that could take them into a share of third place, providing United and Hibernian fail to beat Rangers and Celtic - and Motherwell lose to Rangers on Wednesday.

Aberdeen only squeezed into the top six with victory over Falkirk in their 33rd fixture of the season, but the prospect of a second successive third-place finish is not as far-fetched as it once seemed.

Foster told Aberdeen's website: "We're just creeping up there and no-one has really taken any notice of us until now.

"It's good for us, we can relax and just get on with our job.

"Now it gets to the stage where, if we beat Motherwell, we're level on points with them.

"They've got games in hand but they don't count for anything unless they win those games."

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