Lewis Allan First Interview
Thursday, 19th Feb 2015"Hopefully everything works out well; I am really looking forward to it.
The 18 year old Hibs striker Lewis Allan has come on loan to Dunfermline till the end of March, but this can be extended to complete the '93 day rule'. During this time, however, Hibs could recall Lewis if he is required. Speaking exclusively to the website Lewis explained:-
“It should take me up to the play off final if Dunfermline were to get there, unless we win the league, then we wouldn’t have to worry about that."
Lewis has been at Hibs ever since he was 8 years of age and freely admits that it feels weird coming into a different club and putting on different colours.
"It’s a change, but it is exciting. Two years ago my team were getting offered full time contracts and I wasn’t. I was raging as I thought I had done quite well and thought I deserved one but they said they weren’t too sure. They said for me to come in part time and they would take it from there.
"Hibs had a team in the East of Scotland League, so I went and played there. I did think about leaving Hibs altogether and try to get a new club, but I stuck at it and thankfully it has now paid off. I’ve played for the first team at Hibs and been involved quite a lot and been on the bench a few times. Now obviously I’m here and hoping to get a chance as well."
Lewis has played against Dunfermline this season in two U20s games and at East End Park in a pre-season for the first team.
"I know several of the players, since I have played against some of them for years so it is not strange. I know Ryan Goodfellow and Allan Smith as they are Borders lads. I went to school with Ryan and I know Smithy as he played for Gala. I used to go and watch their games sometimes. We all went to the same college course ran by Stevie McLeish and now we are all here together. He phoned me the other day when he heard and said he didn’t think that would have happened, all the graduates from the same course playing for the same team.
“Ryan and Smithy were on the college website when they played in the Youth Cup Final and they were on the front page of the college newspaper."
John Potter's new player describes himself as 'quick and strong'. He can score goals and hopefully will continue that habit at Dunfermline. He would dearly love a run in the first team and combine his success with that of the Pars. He continued:-
“At Hibs it is hard to get in the first team, there are five or six first team strikers and it is hard to try and get a chance even though I have been on the bench a few times. Now I have a great chance to come here and play games. First team football is a massive step up from playing in the 20s and hopefully I will play well, score goals and Dunfermline can progress as well."
Lewis has been training with Dunfermline all week so his first game in black and white could be at Forfar on Saturday and he could be up against a defender more than twice his age!
“Darren Dods is probably about 39 so that would be good experience again, instead of playing against a 17 or 18 year old defender. An experienced guy who has been around a bit and knows the game so that’s exciting as well playing against people like that."
Another experienced player that Lewis has played against recently is the Pars manager, John Potter. That was in a friendly against Hibs at Spartans Ainslie Park ground in January. Lewis recalled that night vividly:-
“Yes, he said he was going to clatter me, but he never thankfully. He was kind of speaking to me during the game as well, so that was funny."
The Pars gaffer admitted that his interest in Lewis stretches back some time even before that, he admitted:-
“This has been going on for a while. He is one that we have liked from pre-season when we played Hibs here and we have been watching games and keeping in touch with Hibs.
"We thought we would get something done early in the transfer window but Hibs had two of their strikers injured and another one went to play in the African Nations Cup so they were short strikers wise. Lewis was involved with the first team without actually playing so it couldn’t happen and that’s probably caused the delay. Hibs have been great, they have kept us up to speed and told us when it could happen.
"I am delighted to get him in. He’s raw, but he’s big, quick and strong. I played against him in a friendly against Hibs to give him a couple of punches!! He is very effective in what he does and the first time I saw him play in pre-season, he has got that wee bit youthfulness about him and wants to do everything, but speaking to people at Hibs and other people they say he is a great trainer, wants to learn, do well and I think he will give us something different.
"He’s strong, and quick and he has been scoring a lot of goals in the under 20s and his confidence is high and he is one that will give us something different in the squad.
“At the moment he is signed till the end of March on a loan deal but with the option to extend it if it suits all parties. If everyone is happy, then we can extend it to the end of the season
“We were left short last year and that is the one thing I don’t want to be this year. I made the decision that I would try and change it about, five have left and six have come in so it is only one extra player from what we have had. I am happy with the balance of the squad and the options that we have got especially in the forward areas where I think games are won.
"We have got a good defensive record and if we can keep that going and start scoring a few more goals as we have been doing recently, then they are the ones that can win you games and I am delighted to get him in."
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