Injury-stricken Paul Gallacher eyes morale boost in Paisley clash

The former Scotland goalkeeper is recuperating from shoulder surgery following an injury sustained in December which has seen Dunfermline denied the services of a key performer. The Fife side travel to Paisley today to play Gallacher’s former club St Mirren for a match their manager Jim Jefferies has described as crucial if they are to avoid relegation at the 11th hour.

Gallacher, though, can do little to help as Dunfermline attempt to bridge the seven-point gap to 11th-placed Hibs and he admitted: “I’m not great at watching games. Not being involved is very frustrating.”

Morale, however, remains strong at Dunfermline, according to Gallacher. He added: “The banter around the place is still good. It’s a big game and it’s one we’re looking forward to.

“It’s the most crucial game because it’s the next game and Hibs don’t play until Sunday (against Kilmarnock). If we win against St Mirren it puts a little bit of pressure on them.

“They’ve obviously done fairly well with a couple of results but we just need to focus on the job in hand and that’s to get three points on Saturday.”

St Mirren were praised for their performances at the start of the season, but have fallen away with just one SPL win in 2012 and sit in ninth place.

However, they have received plenty of plaudits and St Mirren manager Danny Lennon mentioned a couple of exalted names when claiming his 20-year-old midfielder Kenny McLean is good enough to hit the big time.

The highly-rated Scotland under-21 player, named this week in Billy Stark’s side to face Italy at Easter Road, has been nominated for the Scottish Professional Footballers Association (SPFA) Young Player of the Year award, alongside Celtic’s James Forrest and Dundee United pair Johnny Russell and Gary Mackay-Steven.

“Kenny McLean is certainly one that will go all the way,” said Lennon. “We will have a small hand in it but the only one who will make him go to the top is himself.

“I am hoping to work with him for another season at least but it didn’t do other great players any harm going to the top at a young age.

“It didn’t do Michael Owen any harm and Paul Gascoigne came in very early. I know I am putting up two very big names there but for the talent that Kenny McLean has, and the education he is receiving, if he is fully focused then he can achieve greatness.”