Luke makes a mark

"I didn't know what to do when I scored but it is a great relief to get a goal, especially on my debut here ...

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After making his first competitive start for Dunfermline against Falkirk in midweek, Luke Johnston made his East End Park debut on Saturday against Stranraer. After the match he was both pleased and disappointed:-

"It was good to mark my league debut with a goal but my overall performance wasn't the best so I hope next time I can pick up from that and learn from it."

Luke was especially disappointed to concede a penalty in 21st minute as he marked Stranraer striker Martin Grehan on the edge of the box:-

"It was a stupid decision from me but I thought it was quite a harsh decision for a penalty. I should have stayed up and not dived in. I definitely thought that he just threw himself to the ground. It was just intelligence really, he threw himself and got the foul. Stupid by me to be honest."

Luke who will be 20 this week managed to make amends when he put the Pars ahead just eight minutes from full time:-

"To get the goal really did help me because my confidence was probably not the best and to get the win before the international break was perfect for us."

After returning from Australia where he had moved at the age of 14, Luke has played for a year and a half but that was just his second goal since he returned. That in itself created a problem for the central defender:-

"I didn't know what to do when I scored but it is a great relief to get a goal, especially on my debut here. I will work on my celebrations."

Luke is on loan until the end of the year from Dundee United so stays in Dundee. His parents still stay in Australia but he has family in both Glenrothes and Cupar. The experience in Australia helped his career development. It saw him taken under the wing of a former Pars stalwart before returning to work under yet another former Par.

"I am looking to get more experience, more game time here just to become a better player. Jackie McNamara sent me to get get game time since he obviously feels that I am not ready for the SPL just yet so to be at Dunfermline is just brilliant for me.

"Just to start to get a run in the side, playing football is what I want to do. It is a wee bit different from United but Neil McCann and Jackie are good mates so it is good that they are keeping in touch all the time. Neil and Jim Jefferies know a lot about football, they have been around for ages together and its good for me to improve as a player."

In Perth, Australia Luke claimed that he and his team mates thought about football all the time and watched the likes of Barcelona:-

"I do not regret going at all, it has been the best move of my life going over there. That is why my parents are still over there because they love it. I gained a lot, playing out from the back etcetera but I need to learn more about the Scottish game - winning headers, winning tackles and things like that. That is what I am trying to work on.

"I came back over here for football, that is what I want to do and I feel I have more chance of making it as a footballer over here. That is why I came back. "

Some aspects of the Scottish game were passed on to Luke in Australia since his manager at Perth Glory was former Pars skipper Ian Ferguson. Luke added:-

"He is quite a fiery character, he liked to put in a few tackles as well, I remember him. It is great to experience that and players like Robbie Fowler."