Christmas Number One

Chris Smith will return to the Dunfermline Athletic team for the match against St Johnstone

Chris Smith will be back in goals for Dunfermline on Saturday as he steps up following Paul Gallacher's injury at Tynecastle last week. This will be his 52nd appearance for the Club but the first for them in the SPL. Chris is keen to grasp the opportunity to give his manager a selection dilemma when Gall is fit again.

"I have been bidding my time, it has been a long season for me so far but it is good to get the chance. I am ready to go; I have been ready since the end of last season and I am just looking forward to it."

Chris and Paul Gallacher work together every day in training, pushing each other on but Chris who has considerable SPL experience from his days at St Mirren, feels that he can do the job just as well:-

"Obviously Paul has been the one who has been brought in to play but hopefully I can step in and do the same sort of job he has been doing."

The 25 year old keeper views St Johnstone as tough opposition:-

"It is as big a game as I have had in my career. I need to be playing and hopefully I can start off with a good game. You need to be patient; I was disappointed not to start the season but what can you do? It is the Manager's decision."

This was not the first time that Chris had been displaced by Paul Gallacher and he was one of the reasons how the big keeper was loaned out by St Mirren in December 2009-

"At St Mirren I had a cruciate injury so they brought Gall in and when I was ready to come back Gall had already established himself there. It was a bit limited for me there so the gaffer brought me here to Dunfermline but then after winning the league the Manager has brought Paul Gallacher in and chose him instead of me.

"Gall is a good goalie, he has played at a lot of good clubs and at a good level. It is up to me to knock him off his perch. It is unfortunate for Gall that he has been injured but it is up to me to step in and do my job. Gall has played every game this season and he will be dying to get back, it's just natural, but when he's back it is up to me to try and keep him out and I know he will be pushing every step of the way.2

Chris wants to build on his 18 shut outs for the Pars but he is coming in to take his place behind a defence that has shipped 40 league goals in the 18 SPL matches so far.

"The gaffer is trying to put his finger on it but it is hard. No disrespect to the lower leagues but the quality that we are facing this season punish you for every mistake that you make. We got away with that last year but we need to keep focussed, take every day as it comes and hopefully for myself I can start off with a clean sheet."