Manager ahead of Brechin

13/09/13:- "a wee break every now and then doesn't do any harm

Jim Jefferies will be glad to take his young side on the road and the miles to Dundee and then a further 25 into Angus to meet Brechin City. The international calendar coupled with no further interest in the Ramsden Cup means that there has been a two week gap since the 3-1 win over Stranraer. The Manager was appreciative of the break because of the tough schedule the Pars had come through:-

"From my point of view, I'm glad we had a break because we had five games in a fortnight - two of them on astro pitches back-to-back. We've got a young squad and everybody knows the effort they put in to every game and it is a long season, so a wee break every now and then doesn't do any harm.

"Other people might say when you get a couple of wins you want to keep it going, but we've not had a choice. From a personal point of view it came at the right time for us because it's not just on the pitch they work hard, it's in training as well. You've got to be mindful of that as the season goes on.

"We didn't have that much injuries but when teams have got injuries you always say it's good to give the players a chance to recover.

"It's nice to go into a break winning, that's one thing that's positive about it, and it keeps everybody bouncing - you've not got a fortnight to drag on before you can put it right - and the fact that we've made a decent start means everybody is buzzing. Hopefully they are recharged and ready to go again on Saturday."

Saturday brings the first match against Brechin City since 1994 but like most in this league, it's another team full of experienced players:-

"It's what we have to face. There's no point of going over it again because we'll face it in nearly every game we have. The only team of youngsters I thought we might face was Rangers up until 1st September, but they've got all their experienced players in now.

"They had a few players in before there, like Lee Wallace, Lee McCulloch and Ian Black, and they were all available. It's something we have to deal with and whatever team Brechin have got, even for Premiership clubs it is a difficult place to go."

The Pars need to live with the fact that they will be a target to be shot down just like Rangers were last season.

"Rangers will still be a target but they've still got the resources to deal with it. We're limited so every game will be a tough game for us, but if the players keep doing what they are doing and working hard as they have been we'll be fine. Mistakes will be punished now and again but they'll never give in and the start they've made to the season is okay."

The Manager has a full squad to select from and 19 year old Scott Campbell, released because of a recurring injury, has returned:-

"We are just helping him with his rehab, although he's not officially with the club yet - we're just helping him get over his injuries. That's the only one who is on the treatment table. We had a couple of knocks but they seem to have cleared up."

With 15 year old Pars youth, Scott Sutherland scoring twice in midweek for Scotland and the gaffer saw that as a boost to the youth system that the Club is increasingly dependant on:-

"The one thing about Dunfermline Athletic Football Club, with the pathway that they've taken with the younger element, what a great opportunity for any youngster coming to Dunfermline.

"We've shown that if you are good enough you'll get your chance early, so these boys don't have to hang around until they are 20. Scott's 15 and we've had a few players playing in the first team - albeit in pre-season matches - who have been 17 years of age. So it's encouraging for all the youths at our Club.

"When I look at our under 20 team as well and that team is full of 17-year-olds too, it's a great opportunity for them. I've told the first team that if they are not playing well, there are kids there who I would have no hesitation of putting in and I know they wouldn't let me down.

"They are maybe still young and na?ve, but if anyone in the first team does not perform these young lads will get a chance. So if the young laddie Sutherland, when he does come into the full-time set-up, has something about him then he'll get an early chance. It's the same for everybody."