Good to be back

Perhaps surprisingly, Ryan Wallace was oblivious to the fact that Saturday,was his first start since lining up against Peterhead on 3rd January but he was delighted to be on from the kick off

"It is good to be back. I have actually played quite a few games in the last couple of weeks, I have been asking to play for the under 20s to get some fitness and obviously the manager has been liking what has seen. He has had the faith to put me back in and enjoying it again.

"This time last year I thought that I was probably never going to be playing again because of the injuries I had picked up. It is good to back in around the boys and the three points are massive."

The 25 year old striker started the first half on fire and put on a considerable display of effort and energy. Ryan recognised that is what Allan Johnston is looking for from his players:-

"He wants his team's full of energy, making runs, getting on the ball and playing. That is what you are wanting to give him. Everybody knows that if you are not doing it then you are not going to be in the team. You need to do your job, that's all I can do and hopefully stay in the team."

Two stress fractures in his lower spine and one in his hip kept Ryan out for a long time. Hard work has been put in to enable his return but he has done a full pre season and has not missed a single session, missing only the last twenty minutes of one of the sessions as a precaution.

"I have managed to do everything; I have trained, I have played in under 20s games. I am back fit and really enjoying it under the new manager. He is different again, full of fresh ideas and the boys are loving it. The performances on the park are matching it."

Ryan's last senior 90 minutes was against Rangers on 7th February 2014 and he claimed after playing the full match at Ochilview Park on Saturday that his legs were a bit heavy.

"In the first half I felt brilliant, second half was a little different because we stopped passing the ball although we were creating chances. I had gone and asked the manager and John Potter just to get some minutes under my belt. It didn't matter if it was the under 20s just as long as I was ready to go. I played 80 minutes on Tuesday but overall my body is fine, I am ready to go. I will do a recovery on Sunday and be ready to go on Tuesday again.

All the players are looking forward to Tuesday night's League Cup tie against Dundee United at Tannadice and Ryan is hoping he has shown enough to retain his place for that match. He continued:-

"I think any team that has just gone and won 5-0 will give anybody food for thought. If you look at the bench we have some great players on there as well. Michael Moffat and Josh Falkingham were on there as well. Even if I drop out for Tuesday I am sure that the boys coming in would be as good as he boys who are in at the moment. There is plenty of competition there for everyone."

Reminded that the Pars will go into Tuesday's game as the underdogs Ryan stressed that you must go into every game looking to win it.

"Dundee United are a good side but Dundee were a good side as well. We will go there underdogs and do our business. We will see how it goes on the night. We just need to turn up and play and hope for the best that night. Hopefully we can score a few goals and get the result the fans are there to see.

"It was important to bounce back after defeat from Ayr United especially with a lot of cup games as well as league games coming up. I thought we had enough chances in the game last week to take something out of the game. At one nil down we would have taken a draw, that's not the worst thing in the world. It is great to follow that with a 5-0 win and move on to Tuesday night."

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