Greg Shields is back

"What a difference it is from being injured in that dark room down at Pitreavie to coming out training with the boys.

Greg defending the threat of Mr Goals - Richard Offiong

Greg Shields was pleased to be back playing again but was very conscious that it was games he needed:-

"I have only played 60 minutes before that - you can probably tell.It is just wee things in the game, your passing, your touches and things like that you are going to get through games. It is a step in the right direction. I am pleased that I am back involved, I never thought I would be back this quick. "

Tuesday night's game against Hamilton Accies saw Greg on the bench and in the squad for the first time since August:-

"I said to somebody before the game usually when I'm on the bench I get on.I think I have been on the bench four or five times in my career and I have got on every single one of them.

"What a difference it is from being injured in that dark room down at Pitreavie to coming out training with the boys. That is four weeks I have been in training now and that is what you are paid to do.Now it looks as though I might get a game on Saturday as well, so you just have to grab it."

The opportunity for Greg to come on at the second half arose after Scott Thomson sustained a thigh injury just before the break.

"As soon as he pulled up I thought I am maybe coming on here. I actually thought that before that because wee Calum was holding his left thigh on half time and looking over to the dugout.He got through well in the second half.

"Sometimes you have got to take these chances when they come along. Scott Thomson has been doing really well.He has probably steadied the ship a lot with him and Scott Wilson at the back. They have done well, but Nipper will be back in seven to ten days."

The rest of the season has plenty for Greg to play for:-

"Just to win every game, that is all we can hope for. I don't think the Manager is going to take anything less than the commitment and effort that we showed out there today. He was delighted with the effort we put in, especially in the first half. I think if we had played like that for the majority of the season we wouldn't be in the position that we are in. I don't think he will let any of us slack, he has put that across to us.Now that he is back training as well he will not let us get away with anything, we will definitely be up for it."

His Manager Jim McIntyre expressed his pleasure at having Greg Shields back:-

"It is so good to have him back with his professionalism and his experience about the place. He is the type of player you want in your squad."

For Greg this was competitive action for the first time since the UEFA Cup exit in Ullevi Stadium, a gap of six and half months:-

"You are trying to come back and you are saying when am I ever going to get back playing. There were times two months ago I thought I would never get back but all of a sudden it all fell into place. I went back to see the surgeon again and he verified that everything was ok. He gave me a bit of confidence and said that it would settle down and it has.I have still got a few niggles and a six inch scar on my back.

"I feel great, and I have done a lot of running and feel good in training.I have been through it before with my knee and I have had a hernia.I was out for eight months with a groin problem, so I have been out for longer before.I knew what was ahead of me. There are a few boys at the Club, like Greg Ross who have been out for most of the season. You know what it is like now, you have got to that stage where you can do nothing - you are just getting back and you can gradually pick up and pick up. It all falls into place, you can only do as much as your body tells you you can do.

"Gerry Docherty has been great with me, his rehab is very thorough - probably the best I have had.

There had been doubts in the 31 year olds mind that he would not play again this season:-

"I never expected to.Probably six weeks ago I thought no chance, but as I started back training I thought I am enjoying this but I know there is a lot to do to get back to how sharp I want to be and how I want to play. There are times out there when you are on the ball you think to yourself 'what am I going to do with it?'  The space closes in on you, it probably showed out there today.

"I am not getting too disheartened with that, I have been out for a long time and its just great to back playing.

"I knew for some time I had a back problem when it kept on coming back. I went to the Manager and said that I really have a problem here that I want to get sorted out.You keep coming back and trying to train and you are breaking down after two or three days. It was only really me and the physio who knew I had a problem, everybody from the outside was maybe saying has Greg got a problem or is he at it. In a way I was delighted when the surgeon said to me that he needed to operate on my back, then you know exactly where you stand.

As expected it was difficult for Shieldsie watching from the sidelines.

"I am not saying that I could go out there and do any better, I probably couldn't have.I have not had the best of seasons myself, injury is no excuse I probably should have done better at the start of the year.

"It was difficult to watch, the sticky period when they played Hamilton and Livingston at home and lost something like 12 or 13 goals in three games. That's now been sorted now and I think with Scott (Thomson) coming back into the team as well, it has given him a bit of confidence because he never played much under Stephen Kenny. He has done exceptional with Scott Wilson.He is an old head, he knows what it is about and he enjoys playing for Dunfermline .

Scott Thomson praised by Greg

"When I came back three or four weeks ago Jim (McIntyre) said after my first reserve game that I would maybe get two or three games towards the end of the season, but that is how quick football changes. He has got Bamba as well, he will feel it being left out tonight. He can come back in. The Manager knows what he can get from us and I am just enjoying being back."