Munro hoping for new heights

Pars coaching staff are hoping that Grant Munro can accept the step up from their youth academy and make an impact in the coming season.

Pars coaching staff are hoping that Grant Munro can accept the step up from their youth academy and make an impact in the coming season. Assistant Manager, Gerry McCabe commented:-

"Grant has a great attitude in training, . He has looked after himself in the summer and I just hope he kicks on."

The 18 year defender told the website that he was "absolutely delighted to get a first team deal", he expanded:-

"I didn't find out what was going to happen to me until late last season. Contracts are few and far between these days with a lot of clubs cutting short, so it was a blessing to get the deal here at Dunfermline."

It has not gone unnoticed by the youngster who will celebrate his19th birthday later this month that he is one of just six defenders signed for next season:-

"There could be a few opportunities ahead this season, it is a young squad with not much experience. I feel quite fit so far into pre season so I just need to keep working hard. I am still young enough to play in the under 20s games as well, so I should get a lot of football playing time this season."

Having joined Dunfermline at the start of the 2009-10 season Grant is already one of the longest serving Pars players in the squad! He joined after a season at U17 with Aberdeen but prior to that had also been at two other SPL club academies.

"I have really enjoyed it here. Ever since I have been at Dunfermline I have been made welcome. The atmosphere this season because we are all quite young, is hungry and ready to go. We just need to see what the season has ahead of us."

Grant admits that his personal progress might be more likely if Dunfermline find themselves in the First Division next season but he recognises that the club wants to play at the highest level possible.

"If we do go into the Premier League we will probably need to bring in a few more experienced players in but you want the club to do the best it can. The best it can is being in the Premier League."

At the moment he is adapting well to the step up from training at youth level to training with the first team squad.

"The higher the level you go, the faster the tempo. Everything from talking to the movement off the ball is much faster but so far we have been doing quite a lot of fitness work and the work I have done in the close season means that I am feeling quite fit and strong."

Solitary timed one and two mile runs have enabled Grant to return to training to impress in the "Yoyo" or "Beep" Test but he is relatively unknown. Unless Pars fans had been watching U19 matches during the last two seasons and because the so called "Bounce" games were played behind closed doors, few will have seen Grant in action. Grant who admires Manchester City full back Micah Richards was asked to describe his game:-

"I was brought up as a centre half but I played full back quite a lot last season. I have pace, I am quite fit and quick. I prefer to use my right foot but played left back quite frequently so can use both. I have the stamina to get up and down the channels and I feel that I am good at reading the game."

Grant Munro hails from Gullane and started playing football at North Berwick Boys Club. He was there until he joined Hearts at the age of 13, had a year at Hearts, a year at Hibs and then a year at Aberdeen. This all means that Grant and Pars new signing Chris Kane played together at Hearts. Fellow Par Kerr Young played for Edinburgh City against Grant at North Berwick and so has known him from a young age as well.

As far as Dunfermline are concerned they just hope that bringing youth together can bring them success.