RHYS BREEN has joked that he feels 'like a new person' after recovering from injury that sidelined him for the remainder of Dunfermline's League One campaign.

The 23-year-old, who in May signed a new two-year contract with the club, missed the final eight games of their title-winning season after sustaining a hamstring injury.

Centre back Breen made his comeback in last month's pre-season friendly at Cove Rangers, but was taken off in the game with Heart of Midlothian as a precaution.

He did, however, complete 90 minutes during Tuesday's win over Annan Athletic in the Viaplay Cup, having played an hour in Dunfermline's tournament opener at Raith Rovers on Saturday - and couldn't hide his delight at being back playing.

"It was about four months I'd missed, but to get back into training - what a relief," he told Press Sport.

"Even to get out there and playing games...I was missing something in my life. Now it's came back to me, I feel like a new person!"

"My family will tell you the exact same - I'm murder to be about! I'm always all about the place, my head's all over the place, but, now that I'm back, they'll be happy, I'm happy - everybody's happy now.

"My hamstring's fine now. I've just been managing it. Obviously I had a scare last week (against Hearts), but I've just been managing it, and I've had a scan. Everything's came back positive.

"Again, because it's early in the season, I don't want to be taking any chances. I feel like I did the right thing, coming off, and I've been ready to go. The 90 minutes tonight was great.

"It was just a precaution and, like I said, it's really just because it's early days, and I really don't want to miss out on the season."

Breen is certainly eager to test himself against top flight opposition in a competitive manner when Kilmarnock visit KDM Group East End Park on Saturday.

The Ayrshire side were not in action midweek, after beating Annan in their opener last weekend, but victory for the Pars could put them on the verge of qualification from Group F.

When asked if he and his team-mates have confidence after results and performances during pre-season, Breen replied: "Obviously, we've went up a league this year, and I feel like we just need to keep working hard. Especially for myself, I need to get the minutes under my belt, and hopefully just progress with every single game that I'm playing.

"The friendlies is obviously just a build up to your cup games and then your league games, just to get yourself going, but, again, at the start I was getting frustrated with myself because I wasn't back where I was.

"But, when I'm playing these games now, I feel my focus is a lot better, my sharpness is a lot better, and hopefully it just continues to get better.

"The goals we got tonight, I think sometimes the goal difference plays a big part in this cup. But, listen, we just need to work hard throughout the week, and then take care of Saturday when it comes.

"Big Tommy Goss, who I was playing against, he's a handful, and the boys at Kilmarnock are in the Premiership, so it'll be a good challenge for us, but the boys are ready.

"The past couple of games we've been playing well, so we just need to continue that and carry that into the game."