Manager on Thursday

21/11/13: JJ - Full squad to select from when Brechin City are the visitors on Saturday

Jim Jefferies is expecting to have a full squad to select from when Brechin City are the visitors on Saturday. He gave the media an update on his goalkeeper who was forced to retire just five minutes into the second half.

"Ryan Scully is improving fast and we're expecting him to make it on Saturday. Faissal El Bakhtaoui and Ryan Thomson have also trained so they should be fit. Ryan's the only one on the treatment table but we're expecting him to train tomorrow. It's just been a knock above the knee but he's responding to treatment."

Dunfermline have been in touch with Partick Thistle about extending Ryan Scully's stay at East End Park and it has been agreed to continue that until the end of the season on the same basis. JJ continued:-

"He's been terrific for us. He's come in and given the defence a lot of confidence, so we're really pleased with him and he's going to be a good goalkeeper.

"It's worked out fine for us and we're appreciative of Partick for letting him stay. I think Ryan enjoys it here, he's playing every week and at a good level, he's slotted in well here and gets on with everybody here.

"He's a terrific pro and he works hard, so I can't speak highly enough of him. We're delighted to get him, it is good news and it's a boost going into this weekend's game."

The consideration of new players continues with Clyde duo, Stuart McColm and Scott Ferguson invited to train at Pitreavie last week. Jim Jefferies explained:-

"We took at look at them and we're going to try and get them over again. We had someone at the game on Saturday and we'll keep an eye on them.

"We've got to strengthen if we can. The Board have already made a statement saying they were working hard to make something available.

"We won't have the money to buy players that's for sure, like everybody else, but if there's something out there that can maybe improve us we'll look at it. It's not an easy time to get anybody, especially because we're very limited in what we can do, but we'll try.

"The one problem I've got is that I don't know where we stand with the three players we've got on loan from Dundee United. We had got there prior to the change but the new rule is that you can only take one from each club, so we'll have to address that and find out where we stand. I'll do that at the early part of next week."

The Manager also confirmed that he had contacted former Hibee and Scotland internationalist Derek Riordan (30) to express an interest:-

"We've done our bit, Derek knows our interest and all he needs to do is pick up the phone.

It's not as if we were trying to deny him training facilities here, I think that's what he's got at Alloa and is hoping to impress them.

"We wanted him in with a view to coming to join us. He is within his rights, Alloa have offered him the training facilities there hoping that they can entice him to come. But if he's interested all he needs to do is pick up the phone and then we have a discussion about it. We've already contacted him, so it'll be up to him whether or not he contacts us."

Chances to score certainly came Dunfermline's way on Saturday, if they can create half of those this weekend then Jim Jefferies will be very happy:-

"We squandered about four or five good chances, one even from the penalty spot, to get ourselves two in front, but when it came you could see that we were always on the ball and passed it well.

"You couldn't ask for more and it was as good a performance we've had away from home in terms of dominating a match, which I think we did from the start. We could have gone in at half-time easily 3-0 up, and could have got another three in the second half. But if you had given me 3-0 before the game I would have taken your hand off, so maybe there are a few goals being put on the back burner for someone else.

"Often we've given the first goal away and we've done great to come back and nobody can ever count us out. But it makes a nice change to get in front because the other team have then got to come out and try to get back into the game, and that's when we can cash in."

With four wins out if the last five there is opportunity to extend their consistent results:-

"Whether we do it with a young team is always one of the problems. If you look at the games we've lost outside the Rangers game, East Fife we should have been dead and buried, Arbroath we should have had dead and buried at half-time.

"We actually played alright against Forfar when you look at the video but we didn't deserve anything because we gave away silly goals. But the rest of the games we've lost is purely because we haven't been able to finish them off when we had the chance, and being a bit na?ve and sloppy.

"The East Fife and Arbroath games are certainly six points we should have had in the bag by now, but that's what happens in football. Credit to the two teams for the wee spells they had in the game, getting back at us and punishing us for mistakes. Sometimes it's hard for us to take but it's where we are at the end of the season that matters.

"We can assess everything and right now we've got a wee gap that we want to extend and this is a good weekend to do that. It will not be easy because Brechin are a good footballing side.

"We played quite well up there when we played them last but again, they were another team we should have killed off when we had the chance. But if we get a result on Saturday, both teams below us are playing each other so something will have to give.

"We have to do our bit and that's win the game, but we're going into it with a lot of confidence. The Rangers performance was a very good performance and 3-1 was a bit harsh on us I felt."