PARS stopper Sean Murdoch says he has a “fight on his hands” when he returns from injury.

The 30-year-old is coming back from a persistent problem with a bone in his wrist, which has kept him on the sidelines since a pre-season friendly against Alloa in June.

Murdoch, who made 43 appearances for the Pars last season, admits looking on from the stands has been tough and he knows he’ll have to put in the hours in training to re-establish himself as the club’s number one keeper.

He told Press Sport: “It’s been very difficult. I wanted to keep the momentum going from last season by keeping clean sheets and helping the defence but unfortunately these things happen and you’ve just got to deal with it the best you can and get on with it.

“David (Hutton) has done very well since coming in. I knew when I had to step aside that David was a very good, experienced keeper. It’s not easy as a goalkeeper coming in, especially in a league as tough as this, but he’s done very well.

"So when I do make myself available for selection I’ve got a real fight on my hands, there’s no doubt about it. 

“I want to fight for my place, as I know I’m not going to walk straight back in. I’m going to fight and the only way to do that is putting in the hard work in training and showing that I’m back up to speed.”

The ex-Hibs keeper is looking to put his injury woes behind him and right now feels in the best shape of his career.

He added: “The injury has been better in the past two months or so. I still feel it a little bit but it’s a lot more manageable now. It’s just something I need to get through.

"To go into the cast for two months was a great decision by Kenny (Murray) and the management team, as the bone has now healed to a degree. 

“In time, it’s going to gradually get better and better. Right now, it’s well enough for me to train and play and I’m now looking to get my match sharpness back.”

His goal now is making himself available for selection, with the home game against St Mirren next Saturday a possibility.

He said: “I was back to light training with the goalkeeping coach, David Westwood, last week. I was getting the feel of the ball again and doing some shooting, handling and kicking.

"Over the two months, it’s not as if I was sitting on my backside doing nothing. I’ve been doing loads of leg weights and fitness work so I’ve never felt as strong as this in my career before in my legs and in my overall fitness as well.

“Monday has been the first day I’ve been doing full training and it’s felt good. If I can get through this week and next week okay, I might be able to play in the under-20s game. I’m taking it a day at a time.”