Anthony McDonald’s first interview
Friday, 30th Aug 2019“When a club the size of Dunfermline come in you can’t really say no. I think 100% that the move will improve me as a player.”
The move on loan to Dunfermline is a good one for Anthony McDonald he believes and he told the website:-
“It a good level and obviously I know the manager from when he was at Hearts as a young boy. I have worked with him before and know what he is all about.
“I met him yesterday and he has talked me through how he wants me to play. That suits me really well so I am ready to go.”
Tony hails from Kirkcaldy but dismisses any suggestions of being a Rovers fan although he feels a couple of his pals might not be too happy with him. He has come through the Hearts youth academy with coaches like Gary Stoddart, Sean Kelly, Scott McLennan, Andy Kirk, Jon Daly and Liam Fox. Last season he was loaned out to Inverness Caley Thistle so will be well aware of what to expect in the Championship.
“It is a good League, teams are fighting for places at the top. This is a good side so I don’t see any reason why we can’t get up to the top and challenge.
“I probably didn’t play as much as I wanted to at Inverness but after a couple of starts I pulled my groin and was out for seven weeks. It was tough dealing with the injury but it was a learning curve. I think it has done me good and I feel a more mature and better player.
“I felt like I did alright at Inverness but there is always room for improvement. I am looking forward to getting going.”
Tony recalled his appearance against Dunfermline last season:-
“I had food poisoning during the week on the Tuesday. I hadn’t eaten, hadn’t trained until the Friday but when Darren McCauley, already on a booking, was losing his head they took him off after half an hour. I played the last sixty minutes on an empty stomach. It was tough but I felt that I did well and I enjoyed it.
“Coming from Fife, the Rovers and Dunfermline are where you always want to play. It was good to finally get to play here.”
Tony revealed that his preference would be to play just off the striker and given the choice as a number ten.
“I have played for Hearts as a right winger, I played for Inverness as a right winger, I have played a couple of games on the left - anywhere behind the striker really.”
Stevie Crawford has said for several weeks that he has been looking for a wide player and Tony hopes that he will fulfil that requirement.
“It is good that he has got a wide player, hopefully I can get as many games under my belt as possible.
“I have known the manager since I was fourteen, I was training with. He knows me and it is a good feeling that he has confidence to bring us up to this level and give us games.
“I played a couple of games at the start of the season with Hearts and did alright, scored my first goal but obviously we have brought in a few signings and they are real quality.
“There is not much that I can really do about that. I have to stick my hands up and say ‘quality players’. It is always disappointing not to stake a claim for the Hearts team but when a club the size of Dunfermline come in you can’t really say no. I think 100% that the move will improve me as a player.”
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