Dunfermline manager Stevie Crawford believes signings like Crystal Palace talent Scott Banks and Craig Wighton from Hearts can provide the Pars with quality squad depth.
The East End Park side have made four signings during the winter. Attacking midfielder Banks arrived on loan from Crystal Palace where he is highly-regarded while Kyle MacDonald was snapped up from Airdrieonians after impressive form in League One.
Banks has arrived from Crystal Palace. (Crystal Palace FC)
Wighton has penned a loan deal ahead of a pre-contract link-up at Dunfermline while Lithuanian international Vytas Gaspuitis has also penned a permanent deal at the promotion-chasing Championship club.
Crawford thinks it’s added quality to his squad: “What we have done over the winter window is bring in players who are hungry. Scott Banks is hungry and he wants to help us progress as a football club.
“But he wants to start his career with more first-team minutes to go back to Crystal Palace with. Vytas is coming into a different culture and country which is a new experience for him while Kyle’s stepping up a level. It’s good traits, good character building. We are adding to a squad which had good quality in it anyway.”
Adding quality. (Photo by Ross MacDonald/SNS Group via Getty Images)
There’s good and bad news on the injury front for Crawford. While winger Dom Thomas is expected to return from a fight with Covid-19 in the Championship match with Alloa Athletic this weekend, Ryan Dow could be out for a while longer.
New signing Gaspuitis could also make his debut: “Ryan Dow has had an appointment with a specialist. He has a further appointment on Wednesday as well but I think Ryan is going to be out longer term. I don’t want to put a timescale on that at the moment until we hear from the specialists.
“It seems to be an issue with his Achilles. He’s been put into a moon boot for a week and the specialist will have a further look at it, and then we’ll probably know more hopefully later on this week.
Dow is a Dunfermline worry. (Photo by Mark Scates/SNS Group via Getty Images)
“Dom Thomas came back and trained with the physio on Friday then had a bit-part session on Saturday, and has fully trained on Monday and Tuesday now. He’s probably a wee bit off it, in terms of his conditioning.
“But Dom’s a good trainer, he’s a chirpy character and he’ll be part of the squad come the weekend. He’ll be a welcome addition back to the squad. Is Vytas where we want to be in terms of his fitness? Probably not but he’s available.”
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