CHRIS KANE admitted that having to be patient on the sidelines while his team-mates struggled was tough.

But the forward has said the need to manage his body has become more important as his career has progressed as he targets a sustained run in the side after making a return to action.

Kane, 29, came off the bench in Dunfermline's last Championship outing, against Falkirk, for only his second appearance since joining on a permanent basis during the summer.

His arrival came after a successful loan stint last term from St Johnstone, during which he netted five goals in 10 appearances to help James McPake's side finish clear of relegation danger.

However, this campaign has been a slow burner so far for Kane, who missed each of Athletic's pre-season friendly fixtures, before appearing for 45 minutes as a second half sub in a Premier Sports Cup win at The Spartans last month.

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He then missed their remaining matches in that competition - at home to Forfar Athletic and Cove Rangers, and away to Livingston - as well as the Championship opener at the latter.

Kane's appearance in the 57th minute of the defeat to the Bairns was one bright spot on a disappointing day for the Pars, who sit bottom of the table going into their next match at Hamilton Academical, one point and one place directly above them.

"It is really hard. You want to play football - that's all you want to do," Kane replied when asked how hard it is to stay patient when returning to fitness, particularly when the squad is thin.

"Sometimes you can play through wee niggles but I have learned that it’s probably best to make sure that you are 100 per cent before you get back out there. That’s what we decided, that’s what we did.

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"I’m feeling good now and I just need to work on some fitness and, hopefully, I can get back in the team.

"The last two years that I had at St Johnstone were horrible. It wasn’t just the one big injury - it was a couple of wee ones after it. You learn as you get older, you need to manage your body.

"I’m not as fit as those young ones now but you need to manage your injuries. Everyone gets them, so it’s just a case of making sure that you are fit before you get back playing."

Dunfermline go to newly-promoted Accies on the back of five successive losses in all competitions, but Kane has belief that he and his Pars pals are good enough to turn their fortunes around.

"Of course. It is early in the season," he stated.

"When you look at where we are in the league, you just have to take it every game. It’s a great bunch of boys. I noticed that from the first day I came in and, obviously, the fans got behind us.

"It was a great support from them. Hopefully they will keep coming, keep supporting us. We will do our best out there and we will turn it around."