Opportunity at Forthbank

International call up makes way for possible start for Stuart Urquhart

With Lewis Martin off to Lithuania on international duty with Scotland U19s that leaves a vacancy in the centre of the Pars defence. Lewis is one of just four players who have been ever present in the eleven competitive matches this season and with it unlikely that John Potter will come out of what looks like a quiet retirement, the potential replacements could be Ross Millen, moving into the middle or Stuart Urquhart.

Stuart joined Dunfermline from Coventry City on 23rd August this year and so far has only made one appearance when he came off the bench against Stranraer. He noted:-

"The team has been doing well. Apart from the game against Morton they have been winning games and it is good to be around a team that is doing well. We are looking for a positive result on Saturday."

The 19 year old has been getting game time in the under 20s:-

"It has been great for me, they are a great group to work with. The training is really enjoyable too but it has been good for me to play ninety minutes, it is what I needed. I got a good bit of training at Coventry while I was there but it was really games that I was needing. I was delighted to be playing in the under 20s last week and I feel ready."

While at Rangers, Stuart played for Scotland at U17 level gaining eight caps he knows what experiences await Lewis Martin at the European Championships:-

"I am delighted for Lewis that he has been called up. He is a fantastic player and he deserves international recognition."

The left sided centre back cannot recall ever playing Stirling before but he is aware that the Stirling manager and both goalkeepers Callum Reidford and Greg Paterson spent some time as Dunfermline players.

"It is like that in football when you come up against your old club, you want to do well. I was looking forward to playing in the U20s match against Rangers on Tuesday but unfortunately I wasn't playing. That would have been nice to come up against a few of my friends. At the same time you are there to do a job and try and win games. We all do that in a professional way."

Stuart said that he enjoyed watching the game at the Bet Butler Stadium, he felt the Dunfermline boys did well but were unfortunate to lose the goals they did.

"They can be encouraged by the performance because it wasn't just a young Ranges team, it was a strong Rangers team that they were up against. It was good experience for the boys."

With a bit of luck Stuart might making his starting debut for Dunfermline at Stirling on Saturday and if selected he claims to be ready.

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