Dunfermline Are Difficult To Predict

Craig Levein is unsure what side Dunfermline will put out at Tannadice on Saturday, with new Pars manager Stephen Kenny’s currently reviewing the futures of several 1st team players.

Similar to what’s happening at Tannadice, their longest serving player – defender Andy Tod – has been told to finds himself a new club because his contract wont be renewed in the summer.

Uncertainty about their futures, coupled with the return of several Pars players from injury, makes it difficult for Levein to prepare for this weekends SPL clash between the two sides.

Jim McIntyre, Mark Burchill and Phil McGuire have all made recent comebacks from injury, but even without McIntyre and Burchill, they still managed to dump Rangers out of the Scottish Cup 3-2 only a few weeks ago.

“I’ve noticed they’ve started to get players back from injury, with Jim McIntyre, Mark Burchill and Phil McGuire are all back on the scene,” admitted Levein.

“So it’s difficult to know what sort of team they’ll have out against us – but saying that, our recent record at Tannadice has been quite good, so we have to be looking to go out and win the game.”

Whatever the result against Dundee United, it was announced today that Dunfermline will be heading off to Spain next week to train at a famous 5-star training camp in La Managa.

With their 4th round Scottish Cup tie against Hearts at East End Park next weekend, the clubs chairman John Yorkstone is hoping a change of scenery and better weather can help the players concentrate on the task of progressing to the quarter-finals of the competition.

“The players are going away for a few days to get some warm weather training and a bit of team bonding to push on for the rest of the season,” said chairman Yorkston.

“It’s a good time for them to go and when we decided that Spain was the best option there was no point in going there and hunting around for facilities.”

“Teams in the past have gone to Spain and trained on public parks, but we’ve decided to give the players the best we can?and La Manga is certainly that.”