Splaine eager to make up for lost time at Pars

FORMER Kilmarnock midfielder Aaron Splaine is determined to get his career back on track at Dunfermline after writing off a whole season because of injury and failed attempts to win a move to England.

The 20-year-old has penned a oneyear deal with the Pars to be reunited with manager Allan Johnston, who worked with him at Queen of the South and took him to Rugby Park.

The youngster was released last summer by Killie, where he played nine times for the first-team.

He then saw his hopes of finding a new club wrecked when he broke his foot on holiday.

After returning to fitness, trials with Leeds United and Burnley failed to bear fruit. He is now eager to make up for lost time at East End Park.

He said: “You are used to training every day but instead I was in the house doing nothing.

“When I tried to come back, the doctor said I could play and I went to Stranraer just to keep fit but in the first training session when I kicked a ball I just knew that my foot wasn’t right.

“I went to see specialists and they injected it with steroids.

“I went to Stranraer again to get my fitness up before going on trials to Leeds and Burnley but it didn’t work out there.

“When my agent phoned me up (about the Dunfermline interest) he pointed out that I could go back out on trial at teams but I felt that I should just sign, get a team and start again.”

NEW East Fife manager Darren Young is set to turn to former Albion Rovers coach Tony McMinn to be his No 2 after Billy Stark decided to take the manager’s role at East Kilbride.

Scotland assistant Mark McGhee.