Pars’ striking options soften Cardle blow

Allan Johnston insists Championship leaders Dunfermline have the attacking options to overcome the loss of fans’ favourite Joe Cardle.

The winger will be sidelined for up to six weeks after damaging his hamstring in last weekend’s impressive 3-0 win over St Mirren.

The 30-year-old was named the Championship’s player of the month for August and tops the Pars’ scoring charts with nine goals in 12 appearances.

But, with Cardle’s replacement on Saturday David Hopkirk having scored against the Buddies, 17-year-old Callum Smith claiming a hat-trick in a bounce game this week and Andy Ryan netting four in four games since joining from Airdrie, Johnston is spoiled for choice.

Ahead of tomorrow’s visit to Brechin City, the manager said: “Joe’s a big player for us, so he’s going to be a massive loss but it gives somebody else an opportunity to come in and play.

“There’s a few boys – like David Hopkirk, Fraser Aird, Andy Ryan, Callum Smith – who can play and they’re all good players.

“That’s the benefit of having such a strong squad.

“We had a game the other day against Motherwell and the boys won 5-2. Young Callum Smith scored a hat-trick and Andy Ryan scored.

“They’re all scoring goals and making it difficult for me to pick a team, but that’s the competition you need to drive you forward.

“Joe was playing wide but has scored an incredible amount of goals – he’s our top goal-scorer.

“So, he’s a big loss but we’ve got guys who can fill in and be a goal threat as well.”

Dunfermline have seen off Inverness Caley Thistle, bitter rivals and Championship runnersup for the last two seasons Falkirk and then leaders St Mirren with comprehensive victories at East End Park so far.

With just a 3-2 defeat at Morton and the 6-0 thrashing from Rangers in the Betfred Cup as blots on their campaign, the Fifers head for Glebe Park full of confidence.

The wins over possible title rivals have thrilled Johnston, but he knows the Pars cannot take anything for granted.

He added: “We’re going in the right direction. We’re at the top of the league and we want to stay there, so every game’s massive between now and the end of the season.

“The most pleasing part for me is that last season we struggled to beat the top teams. We never managed to pick up many points against them.

“But we’ve started well this season, we’re picking up points no matter who we’re playing, whether it’s the teams at the top or the teams near the bottom.

“We’ve got to make sure we don’t get complacent. We keep on top of standards every day in training and in games, and we need to keep playing with the intensity and quality we’ve shown.”

Allan Johnston: confident he has the squad to cope.