The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Crawford considers loan deal for former Dee target Murray
Dunfermline are understood to be eyeing up a loan move for Hibs youngster Fraser Murray.
The 21-year-old was a target for Dundee last January but could now depart Easter Road for the Pars.
Murray has scored four goals in 29 top-team appearances for the Hibees and it is thought boss Jack Ross is keen for the midfielder to play more first-team football.
Ross views the Championship with the Fife club, under former Hearts colleague Stevie Crawford, as the ideal place for Murray to develop in a first loan move for the player.
Should he sign on at East End Park, Murray would link up with experienced new signings such as Paul Watson and Steven Whittaker as the Pars prepare for October’s second-tier kick off.
Meanwhile Crawford admits he faces a fixture conundrum as he attempts to craft Dunfermline’s perfect pre-season.
The Pars boss will be unable to face fullstrength Premiership sides now that the topflight is up and running, while he would rather not cross swords with Championship rivals ahead of the competitive action resuming.
Dunfermline also have three League One clubs – Clyde, Dumbarton and Falkirk – in their Betfred Cup group, effectively ruling them out as opponents. It has left Crawford considering his options carefully in a bid to ensure his charges are properly prepared when they resume training this month.
He said: “There are challenges – and we are working behind the scenes to arrange the right pre-season games.
“Because the Premiership teams are up and running, that brings its difficulties.
“You also don’t want to be playing against teams in your own division, although I am not ruling that out.
“We might end up playing a bounce game.
“Now we are looking at playing three League One teams in the League Cup, which makes it more difficult finding friendly opponents.
“We have to get that balance right – being competitive in the League Cup, but also let us see where we are going into the league campaign.”