Chris Kane wants to make first team impression

"I was happy to get the move here and I know that it is only a few days in but so far I feel that it has been the perfect move for me.

Chris Kane is convinced that he has made the right decision by choosing to join Dunfermline after Hearts, where he had come through their youth academy, had decided not to offer a contract to their U19 captain:-

"Jim Jefferies knew me from when I was a youth at Hearts; my contract with the youth team at Hearts was expiring and I wasn't too sure if I was getting kept on or not. A lot of it was to do with the manager at the time, Paulo Sergio."

Chris was invited to train at Dunfermline towards the end of last season and regardless of what was happening at Hearts, he was determined that he wanted to move to Dunfermline. In the end he signed for Dunfermline the day after his 19th birthday on 1st June:-

"It was a blessing in disguise when Hearts decided that I was not getting my contract renewed there. I did not have the complication of having to leave and having to turn down an offer there. I was happy to get the move here and I know that it is only a few days in but so far I feel that it has been the perfect move for me.

"I need to get out and play but it is a big step up from the Hearts youth team to a first team in the First Division or SPL. I am going to work hard in pre season and push myself towards it."

Paul Willis, Andy Barrowman, Chris Kane, Joe Cardle and Andy Kirk

Despite the Hearts connection, Chris has not done a pre season with Jim Jefferies before but friends at Hearts warned him all about it.

"I have seen already that is going to be tough but it is what we need because we are going to have a tough season. The guys need to be fit and the first friendly is coming up a week on Saturday. We need to get in good shape before then but judging by the training I think we are going to be there."

The close season felt like an eternity this year as far as Chris was concerned so he looked forward to pre season even though it comes with great pain:-

"It is a good feeling getting fit again. After doing a hard session you get a good feeling and it is worth it afterwards. I don't think anyone was really moaning about it, we knew that it was going to be tough and we need to get through it day by day."

Chris impressed by being the last man standing on the yoyo test (beep test) but that came as no real surprise since it was an exercise that Hearts were big on.

"That doesn't really matter, what you do on the pitch is what matters. You can run up and down a training pitch all you like but it is what you do in the games that is important."

New team mates Kerr Young and Shaun Byrne played against Chris in the SPL U19 League last season and it was clear in those games that Chris could be fairly described as combative, hard and strong.

Alex Whittle, Chris Kane and Kerr Young

"That is my sort of style. I watched Roy Keane when I was young and hopefully one day I can get half way there because he was a good player and I try and model myself on him. I am a defensive midfield player and like to play anywhere in midfield. I look to break up play and defend, win the ball and feed it to other players quickly. I am not really a flashy player but I like to organise and motivate other players. Whatever league we play in I think that will suit the First Division and if I train hard I can break in at some point to show what I can do."

Chris was at boys club with Kerr Young and he and Shaun stood out for the new Par in the games they played against each other last season:-

"Big Grant Munro is a strong defender and the goalkeeper (Ryan Goodfellow) is a good player. There are good young players here."

The proliferation of midfielders in the new Pars squad is considered good competition and Chris is glad too that there are experienced players in the squad that he can learn from.

"I want to get in the team with them. We are not fighting against each other, we are all in it together and every player will be needed at some point."

Although still eligible for the new U20 league the Keane styled Kane was adamant that it was first team football he was in search of:-

"It is a positive move for the league to change. A lot of players were left sitting on the bench or played only the last twenty minutes but the under 20s league is something that the players can use, not only to learn but for fitness. Without playing, players under 20 are never going to make the first team. I am here to try and break into the first team and be a first team regular. I understand that at the start of the season I might not be straight into the team but I have two years here so hopefully I can make my mark at some point."

04/07/12: Josh Falkingham first interview
05/07/12: Ryan Wallace first interview
06/07/12: Andy Geggan first interview