Par for the Championship

Kyle on course to keep his eye in and timing for the ball

Since the lockdown restrictions were eased, Dunfermline midfielder Kyle Turner has been keeping his eye in for the ball by playing golf. Evidence of his good timing for golf comes in the shape of a low handicap. Now he is hoping to use those skills to the benefit of his football game.

Stevie Crawford gave Kyle permission to play golf and he admitted to playing quite a lot when not focusing on his fitness programme:-

“It keeps you active and I played some competitions to get back in the swing of it. My handicap is four but to be fair I have been playing for years and started when I was five or six. It has been good, I enjoy it and my dad and I usually play.

“We play at Cochrane Castle at Johnstone, I have played there since I was a junior and worked there for two or three years too. I used to play on my days off, it is only five minutes from my house so it is ideal.”

Kyle gave up a part time job at the golf club when he joined Dunfermline at the end of May 2019 on a two year contract. Then 21 years of age he left Stranraer after having scored 19 goals in 139 appearances since making his debut in September 2015.

Kyle played the second 45 of the pre season friendly against Stenhousemuir on Saturday. It was his first football action since March and it was an experience that he described as ‘strange’:-

“Obviously it has been a while, six months or so but it is just really good to be back playing our first eleven a side game. We have not really been allowed to do that much in training.

“It was frustrating because back in March we were sitting in a nice position with a good chance of getting in the play offs. You will never know what could have happened had we made it into the play offs. What has happened is outwith our control, it is a pandemic but as long as everyone is safe and well it is what it is.”

During lockdown Kyle has been trying to keep fit, knowing that it is important to get back up to speed fast and be ready for the Championship campaign:-

“We were sent a fitness programme and we were sticking to that. You look after yourself, look after your body, stay healthy and make sure that you don’t catch the coronavirus.”

In his first season at East End Park Kyle made 28 starts and 5 appearances off the bench, hitting the net five times. He would like to make an even greater impact this season.

“It is going to be a short season so we need to get off to a good start. Hearts are favourites but we will see what happens. We have got a good squad here, everyone knows that there are two or three players challenging for every position so we need to be performing in training and performing on the pitch on a Saturday.”

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