DAVE MACKAY is hopeful that Dapo Mebude will recover quickly from the injury that forced him off on Saturday but was quick to praise his "excellent" replacement.

The former Scotland under-21 international, who signed a one-year contract with the Pars earlier this month after spending several weeks training with the squad, was handed his first start in Saturday's SPFL Trust Trophy tie with Kelty Hearts.

Mebude, whose previous clubs include Rangers, Watford and KV Oostende, his last club who he departed after they were declared bankrupt in the summer, had been given his debut from the bench at Airdrieonians a week previously.

That marked a return to competitive first team football for the forward, who suffered life-threatening injuries in a car accident in January, whilst in Belgium, that saw him spend five days in a coma and require emergency surgery.

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However, after a promising opening in the Fife derby, which included sending a header off target, he had to go off with just 13 minutes gone after sustaining a gash to his shin.

"It’s a shame for him. Obviously he's waited that long to get a start and finally gets it and then takes a really bad cut in his shin," Mackay said.

"So, hopefully he's not out too long. He got some stitches in there, and hopefully it heals quickly, but it's an awkward position for him and it’s just a shame.

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"But, he's had worse setbacks than that in his career and his life, so he'll bounce back and he'll be back soon."

Dapo Mebude was making his first start for Dunfermline since signing earlier this month.Dapo Mebude was making his first start for Dunfermline since signing earlier this month. (Image: Craig Brown.)

Despite the disappointment of losing Mebude, Dunfermline were able to call on the services of talismanic midfielder, Matty Todd, from the bench.

The 23-year-old came on for his fourth appearance of the season, having suffered a fractured collarbone in a friendly with East Fife in June, and went on to provide the assist for Chris Kane's equaliser, before bagging the winning goal with his first of the campaign.

"Matty comes on and I thought he was excellent when he came on and, again, he's still getting up to match speed," Mackay continued.

"He looked a wee bit tired towards the end of the game, which is understandable. It was almost a full 90 that he got due to Dapo's injury.

"We need attacking players to be creative, scoring goals, creating chances and he's done his job in that sense today."