A Shining Light for Pars

A fantastic young professional, willing to take a lot of responsibility on his shoulders and he has handled it well

When Graham Dorrans picked up an ankle injury in the re-arranged match against Raith Rovers on 29th September, there was a young replacement willing to grab the opportunity to stake his claim for a leading role in the centre of the park for Dunfermline Athletic.

34 year old Dorrans is not expected to be back in training until next week but a big positive for Peter Grant in the performance against Kilmarnock was the contribution of 21 year old midfielder Paul Allan. Paul’s first 90 minutes of league football for the Pars was against Grant’s Alloa Athletic at the end of last season and now having started back to back league fixtures for Dunfermline for the first time, the gaffer enthused over the youngster:-

“Paul Allan has been excellent. He’s a young footballer I really like and thought he did exceptionally well in pre-season. I thought the group was maybe too young to make Paul that main core of things but he’s proven he can play in every game he has played in this season. He is a young man with a great desire to do well, he trains exceptionally well.”

Paul has gained experience during periods out on loan at Stenhousemuir, Brechin City and Albion Rovers and Peter who is not a fan of young players not getting games, had questioned whether or not to put him out on loan again.

“I want him to get game time, but I also know he can play in the Dunfermline first team. He can hold his own. I thought he did exactly the same at Queens. In a disappointing performance probably Paul was a shining light in it.”

Paul retained his place for the home match against Kilmarnock and it turned out to be his first 90 minutes at East End Park. Peter considered Paul played his part very well:-

“Playing against very good players on Saturday — with a lot of experience — he handled himself very well and produced passes that others don’t see in this division.

“We have to tip our hats to those who were coaching him prior to me, and when he has been out of the side he has maintained himself well. He got his just rewards by getting the opportunity and now it is up to somebody else to try and knock him out of that.”

With Dunfermline sitting bottom of the league there is pressure on players as well as management, to win games and the points to elevate them up the league but Paul has shown qualities including mental strength as well as physical presence. Peter feels that in Paul he has a fantastic young professional, willing to take a lot of responsibility on his shoulders and he has handled it well.

“You need to be willing to take the ball under pressure. I said last week that I didn’t think that was the case against Queens. You are going to make mistakes that’s football. If everything was perfect none of us would lose. You need to get on the ball and, even when you make mistakes, react well and help your teammates.

“I think in both games, Paul has done that exceptionally well because it’s not an easy position to play in this league — especially the way we are trying to play. There are a lot of demands on you, you have got to be fit because the ball is near enough going through you all the time.”

The manager acknowledged that Graham Dorrans might have a fight on his hands to get back into the starting eleven when he returns from injury but shrugged that off saying:-

“That’s football. When opportunity knocks you need to be willing to grab it. I’m not surprised that Paul has done that because of the way he trains every day. He trains exceptionally well to keep himself in good shape even though he has a right to be disappointed if he is not playing.

“The biggest competitive edge should be on our training pitch and, as always, it is up to someone else to knock him out of the side.”

Related Stories

• Dunfermline 2 Kilmarnock 2
• Queen of the South 1 Dunfermline 0
• Paul pulling on lifetime of experiences
• Allan and Gibson on same pitch again