Manager talks about first signing

27/12/21: John Hughes delighted to sign Steven Lawless

“First and foremost he is a real quality player. He brings experience, SPL experience and he is probably one who can unlock the door. He has a wand of a left foot and he is one who I have chased ever since I was the manager at Inverness. (2013-2016)

“He can take you up the park and I feel that he will be a fantastic addition. His kind of experience we have been chasing for a long time, so I am absolutely delighted that it is over the line.”

After the game against Arbroath the manager spoke about bringing a bit more of a cutting edge to his team and he confirmed that Steven can bring that.

“He can play a pass or look after the ball. He works very very hard and he is a winner. He brings that experience and is everything that we want at the club. He can play on the right hand side cutting in on that left foot.

“We played a friendly match against Livingston a week or two back and he came on as a sub (for Livingston) and scored a wonderful goal. We need to get him up to speed. He has been in here this morning doing his medical and his fitness work. The reports back suggest that he is not too far away. He has a good few more days training and he will be ready to go as soon as the window opens.”

The player left Motherwell in October but has been training at his former club, Livingston revealed Hughes:-

“He has been keeping himself ticking over and keeping himself fit so we are hoping that he hits the ground running. I think that he will excite the fans, he has got that in his locker and I’m quite sure now that the fans will be on YouTube looking at some of his clips. They will see that if he can reproduce that here at Dunfermline we have a real good player.

“He has experience and desire. We really had to convince him that this is the place to be, come and have a look at the place and to be fair to Steven he didn’t need too much convincing. He has played here before with Partick Thistle and knows what the atmosphere can be like.

“Obviously he is signed only until the end of the season because we are under no illusions that we are still in the dog fight and that experience alone will help us.

“We have good players at this club, they just need a little bit guidance and know how - the fundamentals that I have been talking about - and Steven brings that. Hopefully he can play that part as well as being a good leader and a good team mate on the pitch.”

John Hughes credited the board for making the money available for him to sign Steven Lawless:-

“Hopefully one or two will join him. The reason being that I just feel that the boys need a hand. We are not too far away. We are looking at can we get younger? Can we get better legs? A better physicality comes into the equation when you are trying to recruit.

“We do not have millions and millions of pounds that you can roll all these qualities into one player. We need that SPL experience, guys who have been there, done it. They know the ropes, they know who they are playing against and Steven fits that.

“I have to say that he is a wonderful footballer, a real talented footballer that I think will excite the supporters.”

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