Bench test for Goodfellow

Pars under 19 keeper ready if required.

Not everybody is disappointed by first team Paul Gallacher's unfortunate injury at Tynecastle. Chris Smith will make his first appearance of the season and for an 18 year old from Earlston in the Scottish Borders the opportunity to warm the bench is something of an early Christmas present.

Ryan Goodfellow is excited by the prospect of being named as a substitute for Saturday's game against St Johnstone and just as the U19 team went into a short winter lay off in terms of games, he is back fully focussed on competitive football at a much higher level.

"I am really looking forward to it and I am as excited as anything. I have trained with the first team now and again. Chris Smith coached me all last season when there were a few young keepers here - Kyle Allison and Greg Paterson. He had his own drills and I really enjoyed his coaching."

The youngster has been a goalkeeper since starting at the age of six with Earlston Rhymers. As a boy he was at Hibs under coach Jimmy Bruce and also spent some time at Celtic.

It was while at Spartans at U13 level that coach Paul Donnelly brought him to Dunfermline. He has benefitted from goalkeeping coaches Scott Y Thomson and Dave Westwood and is delighted that now he is full time, to be training under goalie coach Brian Potter with first team keepers Paul Gallacher and Chris Smith.

Ryan was allocated squad number 30 at the beginning of the season but now with Paul Gallacher sidelined kit man Mo Hutton has had to produce a shirt for him to wear now that he is a part of the squad. And how would he do if called upon? Well Paul Gallacher admires the young keeper and has watched him in U19 games as well. As for Ryan, he is not short of confidence and ability but he might well need clean underwear if Chris Smith requires the physio's attention.