Macca on Friday

23/01/09: "They have a goal threat and we know that we will have to be at our best to take something out of the game."

It was possibly an understatement but Jim McIntyre described the meeting with St Johnstone on Saturday as a big game:-

"St Johnstone are unbeaten in 14 games and have been on a good run. Our away record is in decent shape so we are looking forward to the game."

On their last visit to McDiarmid Park, Dunfermline Athletic recorded an impressive 3-0 win over the Perth club but the Pars Manager whose team is currently closest to the league leaders but five points behind, is mindful that was a separate game:-

"We were excellent on the day and if we play like that again we will give St Johnstone a good game that's for sure." Unwilling to single out particular threats in the Saints team, Macca said "they are are a great team unit. They are decent all round and are very well organised. They have a goal threat and we know that we will have to be at our best to take something out of the game."

David Graham has arrived since last Saturday and the new signing from Hamilton Accies will be in contention for a starting place:-

"We have been trying to bring in a player in a wider area so it was good to get him in. Earlier in his career he played as a striker but has played wide for the last two years; predominantly more a wide man than a striker."

That would seem to be the end of Jim McIntyre's activity during this transfer window as he added "I don't have any scope to bring any more in. It would be different if someone was to come in for one of our players."

The Pars await Rangers making up their minds about Rory Loy's on loan deal. Jim McIntyre would like to keep him but the St Johnstone match will be his final game for the Fifers unless Rangers allow him to remain at East End Park a little longer.

Given the disappointment of last Saturday's draw at home against Airdrie United and Macca's expressed discontent with the team's performance, fans can expect some changes. In his customary guarded comments about the players in his squad for matches, the Manager confirmed the absence through injury of himself, Kevin Harper, Stephen Glass and Simon Wiles.

Simon Wiles had a further knee operation on Tuesday that means it is unlikely that he will feature again this season. Simon said, "I got the operation on Tuesday but my scar got infected so the surgeon scraped it out and now I have a bit of a hole in my knee.

"I'm going back to see the surgeon this week and have been seeing the nurse every day to get it padded up, because it has to be changed. They have been saying it is healing over really well and when they went in to look at my cruciate they said it was fine.

"The long road to recovery starts now, but I will be off my crutches in two weeks so that's a bonus. I'm not in a lot of pain, so it is just a matter of trying to get the thigh muscle and the hamstring built back up because all the muscle has completely gone."