Depleted Pars will carry on

Dunfermline have decided not to ask for Saturday’s Irn-Bru Cup clash with Falkirk to be postponed after they had five players called up for international duty.

With skipper Callum Morris being added to the Northern Ireland squad for tomorrow’s World Cup qualifiers with Germany and Norway, the Pars have been left with a threadbare pool.

Full-back Ryan Williamson is in the Scotland U21 squad, striker Callum Smith and defender Stuart Morrison are in the U19s, and former Rangers winger Fraser Aird has been included in the Canada set-up for their friendly against El Salvador on Sunday.

Although Morrison is on loan at Edinburgh City, the Pars’ selection problems are compounded by injuries to Joe Cardle, Michael Paton and Jean-Yves M’voto. However, wary of the difficulties of having to reschedule the tie for a future midweek, the East End Park outfit have opted to go ahead with the game.

Chairman Ross McArthur said: “I cannot remember the last time DAFC had five players involved with the various international squads, but it is undoubtedly yet another sign of the progress our club has made under Allan Johnston.

“As a result of these call ups, and having checked the matter with the SPFL, we did have the option to request that Saturday’s game at Falkirk be rescheduled.

“It is further compounded by the fact that we have three first-team players injured at present,” the chairman added.

“However, having discussed the matter further with Allan, it was agreed that we will play the tie as planned to avoid any further difficulties with the fixture being rescheduled to a midweek date.”