RETURNING captain Kyle Benedictus says he is ready to lead from the front and try to help Athletic pull clear of the bottom end of the Championship table.

The 32-year-old gave Dunfermline a boost ahead of the Fife derby by making his first appearance of a season hit by injury since late December at Raith Rovers on Saturday.

His start in the heart of defence was only the 11th game that the influential centre back has played in this season, having been sidelined with a fracture in his foot that was sustained in September, and then with a thigh problem.

A reoccurrence of the latter, which he initially suffered during the Pars' last trip to Stark's Park in October, at Ayr United just before the New Year kept him on the sidelines until the weekend, despite being named on the bench for each of the previous two games.

Dunfermline Press:

Speaking after the defeat in Kirkcaldy, Benedictus said he felt fine after coming through the 90 minutes, and is raring to be at the forefront of Dunfermline's last eight games - beginning with this Friday evening's televised home clash with league leaders Dundee United.

"Personally, it’s good to be back. It’s been a long seven months, but I feel good and I’m ready for the last eight games," he commented.

READ MORE: Pars boss says Raith 'deserved' Fife derby victory

"I think I’ve played 60 minutes in the last seven months, so personally it’s good to be back out there. It’s not the result I wanted, it’s not the result we wanted for the fans. They’ve backed us in numbers again, but I will be ready for the next eight games.

"I’m fine. It’s my first 90 minutes in God knows how long, but I came off the pitch and I’m fine, so I’m ready to go.

"The manager was just protecting me after what has happened previously when I’ve come back and been injured again. But it was time to step on the pitch and I feel fine, so I’m hoping I can get these last eight games and help the boys as much as I can."

Ahead of United's visit, Dunfermline are seventh in the table - on 32 points, alongside Queen's Park and Ayr United, directly above and below them respectively - and above second bottom Inverness Caledonian Thistle by one point.

They are five behind Greenock Morton in fourth, albeit having played a game more, and Benedictus said the Pars players have their eyes on both ends of the Championship as they target a strong finish to the campaign.

"It’s easy to look up the way, but we need to be looking down the way as well," he continued.

"There’s a big group of teams there and we’re no different to the rest of them in trying to get as many points as we can and as many victories as we can.

"We’ll need to train hard and prepare for another tough game. United are obviously up there challenging for the league, so they’ll come wanting to get the three points.

"But we’ll make sure we’re ready and we’ll be looking to get the three points as well."