Mehmet ready for Montrose

“It is a tricky one to be in, everyone we face will not sit back. They will have a right good go at us to get the three points.”

Goalkeeper Deniz Mehmet joined Dunfermline in June 2021 and his shut out against FC Edinburgh on Saturday was his fourth in six competitive matches this season. If he makes that a seven match run in the first team on Saturday it will match his best run of matches for the club and secure the number one spot that he desperately wants to hold on to. The 29 year old keeper told the website:-

“The boys in front of me have been really solid and I haven’t had that much to do. I am happy with it and we just need to keep the run going.

“It is good to have that momentum to carry through. Obviously I would have liked to have played more games than I did last year but football is like that. I just try and keep myself in the team and keep the games coming.”

Born in London, Deniz played for youth teams at Arsenal, Charlton Athletic, and Manchester United, before he joined the youth academy at West Ham United in 2008. He admitted that he did not have a lot to do in the two league games but pointed out that comes with its own problems:-

“It is a different type of fatigue that you get after games like that because you are constantly switched on for the ninety minutes. It drains you, rather than having a busy game where it is physical and you have to make sure that everything is right for the full ninety.”

In July 2022 Dunfermline were delighted to announce the signing of 20 year old goalkeeper Max Little on a 2 year contract. Deniz has given fellow born Londoner, Max a big welcome. He confirmed:-

“We get on great, he is a good guy, a good keeper and is young and eager to learn. It has been good to have him in and have someone to compete with. If I can help him in whatever way and he can push me, it is always good to have that addition to the keepers.”

Keepers always have competition regardless of who the personalities are:-

“There is always going to be that aspect of competitiveness amongst keepers, it is a small group. There is always that at every club.

“There is rivalry but not in a bitter way or a bad way, we are good and get on well. There is only one spot so that is where the rivalry comes into it but he supports me, comes up to me after games and he is happier than I am sometimes if I get a clean sheet. Getting that support from him makes a big difference.”

Deniz has also been pleased to see the arrival of Alan Main as goalkeeping coach.

“Every goalkeeping coach is different, they bring their own ideas, sessions and how they look at the game.

“I have enjoyed working with him. He was in the first day of pre season training. It was good for me and the keepers to have a goalkeeping coach in so early. We waited a while for a goalkeeping coach to come in last year, longer that it should have been. That was another challenge that was given to me last year so it has been good to have him and good to work with him day in day out.”

After none last season, clean sheets have been welcome events for Deniz.

“I take each game as it comes and I try and do the best that I can. If I keep a clean sheet great, but the day will come when I concede and I will just have to deal with it.”

Deniz made 23 appearances for Turkey`s youth international sides, playing from U16 level up to U19. Like the rest of his team mates he is convinced that teams in League One will provide severe tests, he added:-

“It is not an easy league, definitely not. Some of the teams in the league and the ones that have come up have decent financial backing which is progressing these clubs as well and there are good players in this league. It is a tricky one to be in, everyone we face will not sit back. They will have a right good go at us to get the three points.”

Deniz has played Montrose a couple of times in pre season friendlies and gave his impression of the club that has started its league campaign with goalless draws against Falkirk and Queen of the South:-

“I know that they are a very similar team to last season, they have been together for a very long time. We are expecting a tough game against them.

“They are a very decent side so it has just been a case of preparing right during the week and we will give it everything we can to come away with three points.”

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