Shiels joins Pars but may need to wait for his debut
Dunfermline Athletic have added former Hibernian, Kilmarnock and Rangers striker Dean Shiels to their squad, but international clearance may prevent the 32-year-old from featuring against East Fife in tonight’s Betfred Cup tie.
The Pars opened their season and Group B campaign with a 6-0 rout of Elgin City at East End Park at the weekend. Manager Allan Johnston, though, was keen to bring another forward to the Championship club and yesterday added Shiels, who has also played for Doncaster and Dundalk following his release from Canadian side FC Edmonton.
The move will see Shiels link up again with Nicky Clark, a former team-mate at Rangers.
“We showed a bit of quality at the weekend but there is more to come,” said Johnston. “We have a good platform to build on as well as some local pride to play for.”
East Fife have selection worries for tonight’s fixture and manager Darren Young, the former Aberdeen captain, will start a game for the first time in over 18 months as the 38-year-old’s Bayview squad is six players light due to injuries and suspension.
Chris Kane picked up a calf problem in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat by Peterhead at Balmoor and he joins Jonathan Page, Kyle Wilkie, Mark Lamont and Kevin Smith on the sidelines, with Kieran Millar out through suspension.
Young said: “It is not the ideal situation but as we are so short of bodies through injury I need to be involved.”