The Scotsman

Well-travelled Shiels aims to make journey into Premiershi­p with Pars

- By IAIN COLLIN

Dean Shiels got used to winning trophies at Rangers and has every intention of continuing that silverware success after signing for Dunfermlin­e.

The former Hibs and Kilmarnock attacker has signed a 12-month contract with the Pars and made his debut as a second-half substitute in Tuesday’s Betfred Cup encounter with neighbours East Fife.

The Northern Ireland internatio­nalist has returned to Scottish football after leaving Ibrox last summer with three divisional titles in the bag from his four-year stint, and he added the League of Ireland trophy to his personal haul last year after joining Dundalk.

And, after five months in the North American Soccer League with FC Edmonton, the 32-year-old is desperate to continue his winning streak with the Pars.

He said: “This is a Premiershi­p club, really, and standards have to be set, and we have to focus on getting promotion.

“I don’t think there’s any point turning up every week just hoping for the best. You’ve got to set goals, and try to collective­ly achieve them.

“Speaking to a couple of people at the club, I know there’s ambitions here. We want to do well and get promoted.

“I want to win the league here. Whether we can do that or not, I don’t know, but that has to be the aim.”

The move to East End Park reunites Shiels with former Rangers team-mate Nicky Clark, who he admits he sounded out about the switch to Fife.

Despite having only been away from Scotland for 12 months, the one-time Arsenal trainee says he has packed a lot into that time.

European football with Dundalk, playing against AZ Alkmaar, Maccabi Tel Aviv and Zenit St Petersburg in the Europa League group stages, broadened his horizons, as did his travels across North America with Edmonton.

He added: “It was a great experience for me in Canada. I had always wanted to go and play abroad and since I’ve left Rangers I’ve played in some brilliant places.

“It was an experience I really enjoyed, with new styles of football and different cities and different cultures.

“That’s what I wanted, to go away and do that, and I’m glad I did. I would encourage any player to experience as much as they can.

“Now I’m here, the hard work starts.”

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