Macdonald going large at Dunfermline

“Whitts has not had a bad career, I wouldn’t mind having a career like him. He is definitely someone to learn off and look up to.”

In 2003 Justin Timberlake helped launch an ambitious new McDonald’s marketing campaign. Based on the slogan “I’m Lovin’ It,” it has gone on to become by far the longest running McDonald’s slogan in history. Now it seems that Dunfermline Athletic’s own Macdonald could appropriately adopt the slogan of the fast food giant.

22 year old Kyle Macdonald has achieved his ambition to break into the Pars first team. He scored his first Pars goal in the Premier Sports Cup tie against Partick Thistle, he was officially credited with three assists on Saturday, when most would actually say it was four, he has adapted well to Peter Grant’s demands for him to play at wing back and he is thoroughly enjoying the training and advice coming from Grant and his two coaches Greg Shields and Steven Whittaker. On top of that East End Park welcomed back fans on Saturday.

Kyle signed on a two and a half year deal from Airdrieonians on 15th January 2021 and although he didn’t use the slogan there is absolutely no doubt that he is loving being at Dunfermline.

“I am really enjoying it. The manager has obviously seen me play right wing back because I have played there a couple of times before. It is hard work but I have really bought into the way he wants to play, passing the ball about.

“I am enjoying playing, enjoying getting forward. It is hard work that position but I like working hard so I’m happy to play there. I had played wingback with Airdrie, the way we played was not similar. When I got the ball it was touch deliver, touch deliver. The way we play here is a lot more controlled and better on the ball.

“I feel that is maybe why I have done well in that position. I do know the position, I have played it before, I feel comfortable playing there and I am happy to play there.”

Kyle was praised by his boss after the 5-1 win over Dumbarton for his play and achieving consistently high numbers in training. The player who came through the youth system at Motherwell with the likes of Allan Campbell, James Scott, David Turnbull, Jake Hastie, Adam Livingstone, and Barry McGuire now sees the arrival of Peter Grant as the chance to rekindle his footballing ambitions:-

“First and foremost when a new manager comes in I have got to see that as an opportunity to get myself in the team. Obviously when I joined I played a wee part in the team but I wasn’t playing week in week out. So when a new manager comes in I need to see that as my chance to play.

“I’m working as hard as I can but in terms of numbers - GPS - it tells you high sprints, high intensity. Seeing that in training and on the GPS, seeing that I’m working hard and putting myself about to try to get myself in the team and stay in the team.”

The way Kyle travelled up and down the flanks on Saturday and the quality of his final ball must make him currently one of the first names on the team sheet. He admits that he has been working very hard on his game to ensure that his selection is assured:-

“My crosses weren’t bad on Saturday. I felt in the friendlies and in the first couple of games that my crosses weren’t as good as I would like them to be or as good as they usually would be, so I took extra time in training just to work on that.

“Especially if you are playing right back or right wingback you are judged on balls into the box so it is really important for myself to have a good cross and a good ball into the box. I have worked on that over the last week, it definitely helped against Dumbarton. I must try and keep that consistency level up there.”

Training has been a joy for the East Kilbride raised defender and he is delighted to have the experience of Greg Shields and Steven Whittaker to help him develop his game:-

“Normally they will come and help me and get a striker into the middle of the box just to nod them in. I know what I’m doing, it is just getting that consistency. There is only so much they can tell me about crossing a ball in. I know how to cross a ball in, it is just the more you do it the more consistent you will be. It paid off on Saturday so I’ll maybe do that again next week.

“Whitts has not had a bad career, I wouldn’t mind having a career like him. He is definitely someone to learn off and look up to.”

Kyle was the provider of the cross that led to the Pars first minute opener although keeper Sam Ramsbottom palmed his cross on to Nikolay Todorov’s chest to cause the goal. He then was the provider for Dom Thomas to score the second just 105 second later, then it was Kyle who supplied the crosses for Craig Wighton to nod in no.3 and Kevin O’Hara no.5. He is looking forward to a season in which he can have so many target men to try and pick out:-

“They are all quick, all strong. Two bigger ones and then Kev who is a good finisher. I know if I get the ball at my feet, they know it’s coming in, they know to be there. It worked on Saturday, it was a goal each so it was really good.”

The match on Saturday was also Kyle’s first at East End Park in front of fans and while they immediately warmed to his play:-

“It was nice to get fans back in. I joined last year in January so I had never played in front of fans here. We obviously get a few more in here but, because we are used to playing in silence, a thousand felt like quite a lot so it was good, I really enjoyed it.”

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