Nick's time has to be right

After a season of 65 minutes, Nick Phinn is making sure his return is right next time

Nick Phinn was hoping to celebrate his 23rd birthday last Friday with a return to training but he was still receiving treatment today (Tuesday). The Pars midfielder has played only 65 minutes of football this season; the second half against Livingston on 2nd July and then 20 minutes on his comeback after a hamstring problem, before he broke down against Raith Rovers in the Fife Cup at the end of August.

He explained to the website just how his recuperation is coming along but claimed that this time he will be careful not to return until the time is right:-

"Now I am at the stage where I can start to pick it up and do light jogging. But there's no point in forcing it for the sake of a week."

Nick's problem occurred in pre season while in Austria but diagnosing the injury proved tricky:-

"At the beginning we were maybe looking at it from the wrong angle. It is nobody's fault but we thought it was something that it wasn't. It was just one of those things. Eventually it was identified that I had a tear in my hamstring but then there were weaknesses in the different strengths of my legs."

Nick in action at the Braidwood Motor Company Stadium

After playing for three seasons in the First Division it is incredibly frustrating for Nick whose only previous SPL experience was 137 minutes in three matches near the end of season 2005-06. He made his first team debut when he came on as a substitute for Mark Burchill at Tynecastle then a week later, at the age of just 17, he became the youngest ever player to start in the SPL for the Pars when he turned out in the 0-0 draw against Falkirk in April 2006. Nick has been really keen ever since to extend his SPL experience and commented:-

"You look forward all summer to getting involved but end up injured. At the moment I report in the morning, do gym work with the physio who has a programme set out for me and I get a wee bit treatment. Now I can go on wee runs and mix it up rather than just doing the same things.

"I have attended most of the matches but when you see the big crowd at the Rangers game and it being live on television, it is then that the disappointment hits home. You are disappointed to miss any game in this league."

Nick Phinn between Andy Dowie and Paddy Boyle

Nick has worked his way up through the Dunfermline Youth Initiative but it is Ryan Thomson, another who has followed that same route who is benefitting from Nick's absence.

"It is great to see Tommo getting a chance. He has scored a couple of goals and its only going to benefit him getting as much game time as he can in this league. He will be a better player for it.

"I am delighted that Ryan is doing so well but obviously when I am back I will be pushing him."