Holmes from home for Par

Graeme Holmes first return to Airdrie:- "It would be nice to play against my former mates.

Graeme Holmes was glad to get his first start for Dunfermline in Saturday's First Division match at Partick. The 24 year old midfielder has been out for most of this season after joining in the summer from cup opponents Airdrie United but now looks set to start his second successive game against his old team mates.

Graeme scored five goals in his 87 appearances with Airdrie and recalls that the Diamonds are a force to be reckoned with at home:-

"They try to play football as well. They have good wingers and good midfielders. Their front men Simon Lynch and Paul Di Giacomo work their socks off and even if it's not happening for them on the day they work so hard that they create chances for other boys.

"I have a lot of friends there, particularly Kevin McDonald and Stephen McDougall. We know we'll not get an easy game. The Manager's had them watched a few times so I don't think he'll need to turn to me for advice.

"I was three years there and I loved it. I was let go by Dundee United and initially I just went there to train, but they offered me a contract. It helped me get my career back on track. When I left Dundee United I was happy just to get back playing football. Sandy Stewart was the Manager then and he was great to me and Kenny Black as well."

With a home tie for the winners in the Quarter Final against either Aberdeen or East Fife, both teams will be fighting to win through:-

"It's a massive game and it's a good chance for us to progress in the cup. They'll see it as a good chance as well."

Graeme can now look back on his injury problems that started with his back but then experienced shooting pains in his hip.

"I was getting spasms in my hamstring and at first I thought it was just a hamstring problem but the physio discovered it was my back."

"Gerry Docherty discovered my discs were too close together so I had to have an operation to move them. They were touching and causing my hamstrings to spasm. They're fine now hopefully. It's been a nightmare.

When you come to a new club you want to play some part and that's more than half the season gone now. It's been hard but the boys have been great, they've kept me going."

'Homer' as he is affectionately called at East End Park played his first full 90 minutes on Saturday and that is more than in the three other league matches this season where he came on as sub. He admitted it was hard to get into the team but hopes that he has put his injuries behind him now and can get the nod again on Tuesday night:-

"That's what I've got to aim to do and it would be nice to play against my former mates. I got about 35 minutes against QOS and my fitness is gradually coming back. I've trained quite a bit it's just match fitness I'm really lacking so hopefully I'll get that. I've played a couple of reserve games so I'm getting there slowly but surely.

"I'm not a great watcher but the boys have been doing well, we've just not taken our chances. We've had a couple of chances to catch up on St Johnstone when they've dropped points but we've managed to drop points at the same time. We just need to try to get that bit of consistency."