On-loan Turner tips Dunfermline to climb table with run of victories

GOALKEEPER Iain Turner knows what is at stake as he prepares to make his Dunfermline debut in today’s bottom-of-the-table clash against Hibs.

For a team with one win in 18 games – they beat Hibs 1-0 at Easter Road on 5 November – there would be no better time to secure a first home win of the SPL season as they seek to leapfrog their Edinburgh opponents in the standings.

“For any team in the lower half of the table, the last six months of the season is massive,” said Turner, who this week signed on loan from English League One side Preston until the end of the season.

“Every game is very important, but the first win would be a great boost and hopefully we can go on a run from there.”

Turner’s targets are simple: first-team football and keeping Dunfermline in the top flight.

On his first impressions of the spirit in the dressing room at East End Park, the 27-year-old added: “Every boy in there is confident. In any division if you can put a run of wins together you can fly up a league and that’s what we’re looking to do.”

Turner’s move from North End was confirmed on Wednesday, with Dunfermline manager Jim McIntyre recruiting the player after Paul Gallacher’s season-ending shoulder injury and with understudy Chris Smith struggling to convince he could deputise on a long-term basis.

Gallacher is a Scotland international and Turner has been in and out of Craig Levein’s squads, while also representing Scotland B.

Turner, who began his career at Stirling Albion before moving to Everton and then on to Deepdale remains confident he can enhance McIntyre’s side.

He said: “I’ve been given the chance here, so I’m delighted. Thankfully the manager has given me a chance here to show what I can do.

“Every player brings something different to the table. Hopefully I can show people what I can do, it will help the team and help myself and we’ll all be happy.”