Manager on Friday

27/12/13: JJ - "We shouldn't go into any shell just because it's Glasgow Rangers.

Jim Jefferies today praised his side for winning their last two matches, both were away from home and they scored seven goals in the process.

"They were two tough away games and of the two goals we lost, one was a wonder strike and the other was a gift. We are going fine but Monday is a different game but we are going into it the best prepared as we can.

"They are playing well, the confidence is up and their spirit is great. We are on a good run so is there ever a better time to face a tough match like we have got? We will have to do well and concentrate. We shouldn't go into any shell just because it's Glasgow Rangers.

"We need to go and believe. We need to say to them 'this is how we have been playing' and go and show them how good a team that we are. If we can, we need to get them on the back foot."

The Manager revealed that his injured players are improving. It will probably be a last minute decision over whether or not centre half Callum Morris is fit for Monday night but he was confident about his new central defensive partnership 17 year old Lewis Martin and 20 year old Kerr Young.

"The two boys did well last week at Arbroath but we will give Callum every chance. Andy Geggan did not train on Friday following a slight strain but is expected to train on Saturday so I expect it will be much the same squad. Ryan Thomson is doubtful however with a virus.

Callum Morris and Andy Geggan v Rangers

"Robert Thomson is still out. Ross Millen is out but of the rest of the squad, the only one that is giving us concern is Callum. We will test him on Sunday."

Jefferies added:- "It would be great if we could have everybody available but if we haven't people just have to come in and grab the chance. Jordan Moore has come on and made an impact in the last two or three games so he is the obvious choice of replacement."

Striker Robert Thomson has not figured recently and is on a short term contract that expires in the middle of January. The Manager has made it clear to the player that if he wants to play regularly, as he has hinted, then he needs to speak to his agent to go out and find him that.

"If he stays he is going to be a bit of a squad player. He is like all young players, he wants to play and there is nothing wrong with that. He will either stay until the end of his contract or move on if he gets an opportunity to play.

"Same with Ryan Ferguson; the rule was that we could only keep one and we decided on Jordan Moore. Jackie McNamara was okay with that and he asked if he could go back and talk to Jackie since there seemed to be one or two clubs that might want to take him out on loan where he would get a chance to play regularly.

"Ryan and Robert have slotted in, they are no problem, they get on with their job and work as hard as they can. It is just the way things are; sometimes we wish that Fergie could take things that he does on the training field on to the pitch. He is only a young boy and it might come out of him some day. It is not going to help him not playing regular football. We can't take him anyway because we settled on Jordan and we hope Fergie gets fixed up and gets a regular game because he is a smashing boy. He has enjoyed it and loved his time here."

That would free up a couple of places for newcomers in the limited Dunfermline squad. There is an opportunity to bring in one more on loan player after 1st January. Jordan Moore's current loan period ends on 26th January but this will be extended until the end of the season.

    
Ryan Wallace, Jordan Moore, Ryan Thomson and Allan Smith

Moore has provided choice upfront for the Manager sharing starting positions with Ryan Thomson and Ryan Wallace. 19 year old Allan Smith is bursting to get back as well after one or two games didn't go his way. The Manager acknowledged:-

"When Smithy comes back, he will be jumping to get back into the starting eleven. If I had kept on playing him his confidence would have gone down and it then takes longer to get back. You learn that through experience, it is the best way to handle it.

"Lewis Martin has played fantastically in the two games he has played (against Ayr and Arbroath) and he will have another few games under his belt doing that. He has yet to experience a dip in form. If he is doing fine that might be a wee while off yet but we can expect it to come because it happens a lot. The secret is to take them out of it.

"Big Kerr Young wasn't having such a great time of it; we took him out of it at Ayr and he came back in on Saturday through Callum being injured and did better than he had been doing.

"Sometimes you get a reaction and you have to make sure that you do not destroy them. When things are not going well the last thing that you want to do, especially with young players, is keep them in because it will take you longer to get them back."