Lewis McCann could be set for a return to the Athletic squad for Saturday's Scottish Cup tie at Edinburgh City.

Manager, James McPake, has revealed that the 23-year-old forward, who missed the game at Ayr United at the weekend, has returned to training ahead of the third round match at Meadowbank Stadium.

The Northern Ireland under-21 cap, who has five goals from 18 appearances this term, missed the defeat at Somerset Park with a hamstring problem, but McPake told Press Sport: "It's certainly not too early to say he might.

"He was on the pitch running today (Tuesday), so he's progressed really well. We're hoping to have him fully training Thursday and Friday with the rest of the squad, and then we'll assess it from there.

"It's progressing really so, hopefully if there's no hiccups or nothing popping up, then we'll have him for this weekend, if not, the following one, that's for sure.

"Everybody's fine.

"They've all trained. A few of them played in the reserve game - Deniz, We played in the Sam Young, Tommy Fogarty, Sam Fisher, and obviously the younger ones went and played as well. The training group is fit and healthy.

"As I say, we'll see how Lewis is later on in the week, but we're hopeful we can maybe get into this tie with a full set of squad."

Dunfermline will play the Citizens, who are fifth in League Two, for the first time since they met in season 2022/23 in League One.

The Pars, who were crowned champions, won three and drew one of the four meetings between the clubs, and were victorious on both trips to Meadowbank.

McPake believes that having experienced that environment will be of benefit to his side, continuing: "It's certainly one that we're looking forward to.

"It's a place we know, obviously from our League One days. We've no issues with going there. The pitch is decent enough at Meadowbank so we're looking forward to the game.

"I think the fact that the pitch is good for a start is a positive, albeit it's an astro, but it's a good one, and it's a place that we've all been to before, or mostly all our players have been to before. It definitely does help when it comes around."

Whilst making sure they get through the tie is the priority, McPake also wants to see a good performance from his team, adding: "You do need to just get through when it comes to cup competitions, but also I think if you look at it the other way, nine times out of ten when you win a game of football, it's down to your performance and how you do that.

"In certain times, you somehow manage to get a win, and the performance might not be where you wanted it to be.

"In cup competitions, you take that just to get through, but what we keep going on to the players, and it's what we've said from the start, is the levels of performance every day in training and then on match days, that will ultimately dictate if we get through this round, and then get a season going with some wins as well."