Kirk is the centre of attention

Eight Andy Kirk goals in seven games makes the Irishman the man to stop

It was Andy Kirk's eighth goal of the season that sent Dunfermline into the hat for the last 16 but he modestly played down suggestions that it was his best ever start to a season.

"It probably is one of my best starts but hopefully I can keep myself fit and keep myself scoring goals because I know I am capable of doing that. I don't think this is any different from any other season, I always try and get into the right areas in the box. I have always scored goals at every club that I have been at but I don't know what has made the difference this season but hopefully it continues!"

Even with missing the last two months of the season Andy's tally in 2009-10 was 17 goals so he is well on his way to beating that. The Northern Ireland squad for the European Championship international in Slovenia was named on Tuesday but there was no Andy Kirk in it. Nigel Worthington's team has not scored a single goal however in seven international matches since Rangers Kyle Lafferty scored against Poland back in September 2009 and Andy knows all he can do is to keep scoring goals in the hope that cannot be overlooked.

"He has a lot of good players to pick from and some of his strikers are playing in the Premiership and Championship. It will be difficult for me to get in but if I get the chance then it would be great for me. If I got picked again then I would be delighted but if not it is not the end of the world for me, my club football is the most important thing to me."

Now all the Pars opponents will be out to stop the Kirk goalscoring machine but the 31 year old just views that as greater opportunities for the players around about him to get themselves on the scoresheet.

"In our team we have a lot of good attacking and wide players. Strikers Steven McDougall and Pat Clarke are dangerous players in the box. There is not one player that you have to watch - the front five, depending upon what shape we are playing, we are all capable of scoring goals. If an extra man marks me then maybe somebody else gets free."

Andy acknowledged that Clyde made progress in the Co-operative Insurance Cup a tough task:-

"They got off to a great start in both halves but it was all about getting through to the next round and we are delighted to be there.

"It looked that it was going to go to extra time because we had a couple of efforts at goal cleared off the line and the keeper made a couple of good saves. I thought it was going to be one of those nights that would need to go to extra time to see who the winner was going to be. We were lucky enough to get the break. I hit the inside of the post but I will take the two."

Looking ahead to the next round of the Co-operative Insurance Cup Andy was not fussed who the Pars drew, only that a home tie would be very nice.

"The Club would probably like a big away draw but we played well at Hearts last year and we will just see what the draw gives us." Whoever that maybe Andy will be up for adding more to his tally:- "I always fancy my chances of scoring, as a centre forward you always believe that you are going to score goals. Some weeks I don't, some weeks I do but you have got to have that belief."