Dunfermline: James McPake gives January signings and injury update

The club are working to try and conclude a deal - which would be a loan arrangement - before the Diamonds head for KDM Group East End Park.

James McPake told Press Sport this week that the Pars were "actively trying" to bolster their injury-hit squad, which is set to be bolstered by the return of Lewis McCann and Ewan Otoo for the weekend.

The Athletic boss has, however, been dealt further injury blows by revealing that Aaron Comrie and Alex Jakubiak face between four and six weeks out, whilst Kyle Benedictus will be absent for "a wee while" with no definitive timescale offered, although it has been reported elsewhere he could on the sidelines for up to two months.

Speaking at his weekly sit down with the media earlier today, McPake was asked whether any business would be done, and he replied: "We'll hopefully have one in for the weekend.

"I know it's looking that there's still no signings in and things like that, but this one will hopefully be the first one. We've had good conversations with the board in Germany, with David (Cook, chairman and CEO) - David's working all hours as well. They're all doing that.

"Thomas (Meggle, Pars sporting director) is over at the minute. I just saw him there, he arrived today, so we've had good conversations, and the aim's still the same. We need to improve the squad.

"At the start of the season it was improving the squad and staying in the league, getting to the 40-point mark, seeing what we can do. Everything stays the same, then the injuries come, and sometimes you see then the true side of the football club - are we still at that point, or do we just settle? No, it's still get to the 40 points, develop these younger players, which I believe we're doing - Ewan Otoo's a prime example of that. I think he's getting better and better, Lewis McCann, and then the phone calls where they say, look, we understand the injuries. We understand what's happening, we're going to help you with getting some players in.

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"The targets that we had identified, maybe for some in this window, some for the next window, how can we help you accelerate them? We're doing that.

"They understand it and have told us that they do understand that we need help. We were always looking to strengthen, but you don't need to be genius to work out in what area we need to strengthen now. That was never really anything until the summer we were looking to do that, to add that wee bit again there, but we were looking at other areas of the pitch.

"Now we're having to change that and the board have accepted that. We're looking to get this one in and then we'll look and see what more we can do."

On the injury front, McPake said that Comrie and Jakubiak will be out with calf and hamstring injuries, whilst centre back, Rhys Breen, has suffered a knee problem that is set to sideline him for around a month.

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There was better news on Sam Fisher - although he won't be risked this weekend - whilst the boss believes that Kane Ritchie-Hosler, who is set to return to Dunfermline on Monday after spending the festive period with his family, could be missing for another two months.

"The injuries that we have got are well documented now. Every time I come in here (to speak to the press), it is normally about injuries rather than the game which is unfortunate, or most of it is taken up with the injuries situation," McPake continued.

"There is a bit of good news this week in that there will be a couple available who weren’t available last weekend (McCann and Otoo). There are certain ones - Aaron and Jakubiak - who are added to the ever growing injury list.

"It’s a calf injury for Aaron, hamstring for Jakubiak. They could both be out for between four and six weeks. Bene is going to be a wee while - there is no timescale at the minute, we need to see the specialist. It’s the same specialist that Matty Todd and Ben Summers, with his first thigh injury, have seen. We are keeping specialists and MRI machines going, that’s for sure!

"Rhys Breen has a medial knee injury and probably out for four weeks as well.

"Sam Fisher is looking brilliant, the best I’ve seen him, he has two black eyes. His nose is like a boxer’s nose but he is in good spirits. He is going to Hampden tomorrow to see a concussion specialist because it is his second one (in recent weeks).

"Sam has a broken nose and a couple of sore bits on his face. We will be very cautious with Sam given the nature of that injury. Even if he wasn’t needing to see that specialist at Hampden, it is something that we want to do as a football club to make sure the boy is alright.

"We are certainly not taking any risks. For instance, Ben Summers played last weekend after we had scan reports on his ankle saying that it was going to be sore and it was not going to get any worse. You can take a risk with that, but we will certainly not take a risk with a head/ brain injury. We will get that checked tomorrow and we will follow the protocol with the specialist. He is back to his normal self which is encouraging.

"Kane will be back up on Monday. We gave him some time at home in his early stage rehab.

"I have had that same surgery that Kane had and it’s boring more than anything at the start because your arm is in a sling, you can’t do anything. We just thought with the period that he had, mentally as well with back-to-back surgeries, then he goes and dislocates his shoulder that needs repaired as well. He has enjoyed his time down south over Christmas and New Year.

"He will come back up and we can now progress him. He will probably be another six to eight weeks."

In this week's Press Sport, McPake also said that Matty Todd won't need surgery on a hamstring problem picked up before Christmas, but that he will be out of action for "a little while".