The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Keena keen on nailing down Pars starting spot
DUNFERMLINE: Loan striker desperate to make up for lost time with more goals
Dunfermline starlet Aidan Keena insists he is not ready to give up his jersey without a fight after bagging a brace in a man-of-the-match display against Inverness.
The 19-year-old, who is on a seasonlong loan from Hearts, marked his first start in the Championship in sensational style, notching both goals in a breathless 2-2 draw at the home of the Caley Jags.
His second strike will live long in the memory, with the Irish marksman picking the ball up 35 yards out and thundering a magnificent drive beyond Mark Ridgers.
“I wouldn’t mind scoring more like that!” he smiled.
“I’ve had a few like that before, to be fair. I wouldn’t say they are ‘easier’, but you don’t need to over think it – you just touch it out of your feet and have a go. Thankfully this one found the top-corner.
“It was good to get the early goal and it settled my nerves, as I hadn’t played a senior game in a while and it’s a higher level than what I would be used to.
“I feel like I was unlucky not to score more and maybe we would have come away with the three points, but after a long journey and tough game, we’ll take a draw.”
Keena, who scored eight goals in 15 starts during a loan spell with Queen’s Park last term, has been forced to be patient this term. He joined the Pars at the end of August but was unable to immediately link up with his new teammates as he recovered from a hernia operation.
However, he is desperate to make up for lost time and – as Keena seeks to catch the eye of Hearts boss Craig Levein – he has already made a name for himself with one Tynecastle icon, Inverness gaffer John Robertson.
“If he [Robertson] was worrying about stopping me then that’s a brilliant compliment in itself – he’s a Hearts legend,” added Keena.
“It’s great if I can make a good impact against someone like that.
“I had a wee chat with him afterwards and he knows my name, anyway!”
Given Dunfermline had failed to find the net on three of their previous four games prior to Keena’s finishing masterclass in the Highlands, he looks set to keep his place in the side for Saturday’s trip to Alloa Athletic.
“Hopefully I’ve put a mark down and I can get another start at the weekend,” he said.
“We’ve had an issue scoring goals but we’ve worked on a few things – the gaffer knows what he is doing.
“It’s just about getting to know the guys and them getting to know me. You need to gel with any new team and hopefully if that happens, I’ll get more minutes and show what I can do.”