Easton’s debut on hold as McIntyre’s men look to shake off cup hangover

Dunfermline Athletic have agreed a deal to sign Craig Easton until January but the former Dundee united midfielder will not be able to face Motherwell in the SPL this afternoon because the paperwork cannot be completed in time.

Bellshill-born Easton, 32, played for Leyton Orient, Swindon and Southend after leaving Livingston in 2005. Dunfermline manager Jim McIntyre said: “Craig is a box-to-box midfielder, he has lots of energy and has got a goal in him.

“We felt we needed more cover in the middle of the park and he fits the bill.”

Dunfermline go into the clash with Motherwell on the back of their surprise Scottish Communities League Cup defeat to East Fife on Tuesday night. But the First Division champions remain unbeaten in the SPL and know that the winners of today’s East End Park encounter will top the table on tonight.

Midfielder Gary Mason said: “We’ve got to get the cup defeat out of our system as quickly as possible. We have a big game against Motherwell, which will be a right tough match with the way they have started the season.

“We can’t get distracted from the way we have started the season. The other night was one of those things, and it happens. Hopefully we can get the right reaction.”

Meanwhile, Motherwell manager Stuart McCall aims to sign Jamaica winger Omar Daley after completing the capture of Kilmarnock defender Tim Clancy.

Motherwell have taken on the last year of Clancy’s Rugby Park contract, with McCall delighted to sign an experienced and versatile defender after Steven Saunders was ruled out for the season with a ruptured Achilles.

Daley, 30, who played under McCall at Bradford, is training with Motherwell after leaving Valley Parade at the end of last season. “We are hoping to get another body in and hopefully we won’t lose anybody,” said the Fir Park manager.

“I know Omar well and I would like the move to happen. But there is a bit of red tape to cut though. But Omar ticks the boxes in the sense that he can play anywhere up font. He’s pacey – he’s just what we need and I’d be delighted if we got him tied up.”

Kilmarnock manager Kenny Shiels claimed Clancy had been a victim of his own adaptability as he failed to pin down a regular starting place, but the Irish defender feels it is a positive.

“I played right-back, left-back and centre-back against Motherwell last season so I cover all the positions,” the 27-year-old said.

“It can work against you. If you have a spot every week and you’re playing, you stay in the team. But if you are getting shifted around, when players get fit again, if you don’t have a good game, you are probably the first one to get dropped.

“But I see it as a good thing because it’s a squad game and if you cover a lot of positions it benefits the squad. It’s a smaller squad as well here. Killie have a lot of players so hopefully if I come in and do well or if someone gets injured and Tom (Hateley) goes into midfield, maybe I could slot in.”