Paul pleased to be back

"I played quite a lot last season but this year I hope to become a regular in the team

Just 20 years of age but in the current squad, Paul Willis ranks fourth in Pars appearances. The midfielder has made 50 appearances, although 60% of these were off the bench. He will also remain the last Pars player to score a Premier League goal; but he hopes that record goes long before it becomes a Pub Quiz question.  He spoke to the website after training:-

"It has been hard but it is enjoyable just to get back and fit again for the new season. It is going to get tougher but it is good to be back. I expected the sessions to be hard but all the boys have coped with it so far."

Conscious that he is entering the final year of his contract at Dunfermline , Paul is looking forward very much to showing Jim Jefferies what he can do:-

"I played quite a lot last season but this year I hope to become a regular in the team, prove my worth to the gaffer and depending upon which league we are in - if we are in the First Division we will be trying hard to win promotion and if we are in the SPL we need to do better than how we did last season and stay up there."

Paul has experience of both leagues but obviously like every player wants to be playing at the highest level possible:-

"If we end up in the First Division we will just have to get on with that. It is young boys who have been signed so we have a good young squad. There are quite a few central midfielders but it is always great to have variety in midfield.  That is obviously what the gaffer is thinking.  He wants to add to the squad but he doesn't know which league we will be in yet.

"The first round of the cup is just two weeks on Saturday and we have got to get ready for that.  If we are going back into the SPL we won't even play in that and then it is all about getting fitness."

The first friendly is on Saturday at Berwick Rangers and all the players are hoping to get a run out in the cross border trip:-

"Because it is the first game probably the best things would be 45 minutes each just to ease our way back into games."

Paul's strength is the quality of his crosses which have caused the best of Scotland 's defences many problems. He continued:-

"Hopefully I can use it for the team's benefit, supply some goals for the strikers. I proved in the SPL that I can do it and I am hoping that the gaffer has seen that. I want to play a big part this season."