Dunfermline: Kyle Benedictus back training ahead of Kelty Hearts tie

The 32-year-old has not featured since the end of August, in a match with Ayr United, after being forced off at half-time due to a hamstring issue.

However, after five weeks out, the centre back is back working with the Pars squad as they prepare for tomorrow's match with their near neighbours, who top League One after an impressive start to their season.

Dunfermline's assistant manager, Dave Mackay, also confirmed that left back, Kieran Ngwenya, is available for selection, whilst goalkeeper, Tobi Oluwayemi, would continued to be monitored having missed the last three games with a hamstring problem.

"Kyle Benedictus is back training today. Kieran Ngwenya's back available, Tobi's trained a few days now," Mackay told the media this afternoon (Friday).

"Again, we'll still be a little bit cautious with what we're doing with Tobi at the minute, just with the type of injury it was.

"Apart from that, the only one that didn't train today was Lewis McCann and, again, that's maybe being a wee bit cautious with that one. Just with the type of player he is and the way that he plays, you're always at the risk of making it a lot worse if he was to pull up or come back slightly too early.

"He might be the only one that's probably definitely not available for the squad tomorrow, but that's more one that we're having to be cautious with for the long term."

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Speaking on having Benedictus back involved in training, Mackay noted: "Whether Bene's involved or not, whether he plays or is on the bench, he is back training.

"He's done a couple of days training now. He's done all his rehab work with the physio, he's been given the green light to join in, so he is available again.

"I think it's always good to have Bene about.

"He's vocal and he's not shy in telling players if he feels the standard isn't quite right, or there's stuff needing improved on. There more players like that you have, the better, because you can't have myself and the manager doing it all the time, and it seems as if you're being negative all the time.

"I think, at times, players need to take it upon themselves to drive the standards. That's not to say that the standards drop - the standards are normally really high - but anything drops below what they reckon is below-par, then Bene will be right on top of them."

Mackay, who also said the Pars will be without Tommy Fogarty, with the on-loan Birmingham City defender on international duty with Northern Ireland's under-21s, said that they would exercise caution over whether McCann or Oluwayemi would be involved.

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"Even if it was a league game, I think with the type of injury Lewis has, because, we know if he's not available for tomorrow, he'll definitely be available for next week, but the risk is if you bring somebody back too early, they potentially miss two months," he continued.

"We want to have everybody available, but you also have to be a little bit cautious with what you're doing, with certain injuries.

"At least if it's an impact one then you can get them back whenever, really. If they think they're fit to play, they're fit, but when it's muscle injuries, and the amount of high-speed running he does, and how explosive he is, then he's always at risk, especially if there's a little bit of weakness there still, then there's that danger it can go and be a long-term one.

"Tomorrow might come a bit too early for Tobi but he's back training and doing most of the stuff that the goalkeepers are doing, and joining in with us as well.

"It's an awkward injury as well because, a lot of the time, you feel no pain where it is but, if they properly go, then they are serious injuries.

"Again, it's one that the medical department and the manager will discuss. If they think it is a real risk then an extra few days isn't going to do any harm. We've got a more than capable goalkeeper playing at the minute in Deniz anyway, so we'll just assess that one over the next 24 hours."