Manager ahead of Dumbarton

13/09/12: JJ - "Looking at them in training this morning I cannot wait for the game on Saturday.

Jim Jefferies is waiting to see if Joe Cardle will recover from a rib injury in time to start at Dumbarton on Saturday. Joe was a replacement for Alex Whittle in the starting line up against Raith Rovers, but should he not make it the Pars gaffer will be able to bring back Whittle who lost his place to Cardle through injury.

Definitely out on Saturday will be 20 year old Chris Kane who sustained a nasty ankle ligament injury in the U20s 6-1 win over Ross County on Monday night. Kane could be out for three or four weeks but back in the reckoning come Ryan Thomson who returning to training after suspension on Tuesday. The Manager also will consider two of last seasons U19s - midfielder Shaun Byrne and striker Allan Smith. He commented:-

"Shaun made his debut against Montrose and did excellently. Allan Smith has had a good run in the under 20s so we would have no fear about putting them in if we need to. Ryan knows he made a major mistake in terms to conduct befitting a professional football player. Dunfermline have undertaken the internal disciplinary side. He has been away for three weeks and got it sorted out. He still has to face what he faces if it ever goes to that stage but that is a long way off. He has now to concentrate on football matters.

"We are delighted to have Ryan back, hopefully he has learnt his lesson. He is young, we all make mistakes - he is not the first young footballer, and not the last, hopefully it is his last and he can concentrate on what he is very good at. That is playing football. It is great when you have somebody waiting in the wings. He has lost his place in the first team; the players who have replaced him have done exceptionally well so that keeps them on their toes because they know Ryan will be working hard to get back in. They can make it hard for him to get back. It is a great situation for me and the staff at the Club. That is what you want - good competition for places."

The Manager is keen that his team keep their recent form going:-

"Looking at them in training this morning I cannot wait for the game on Saturday. I said 'if you take what you did in training this morning on to the pitch on Saturday, if you do lose it will take an exceptional performance to beat you.' As long as we come back saying that we gave it our all, we played well then you can accept that. But when you don't turn up, drop your standards then it is hard to take but when you have worked with this squad and see how well they are coming along together then I am looking forward to every game with them now."