WHEN Gavin Reilly looks over his time as a Pars player, frustration is the word he’d use to describe it best.

After arriving on loan from Hearts last summer to team-up with his former Queen of the South manager Allan Johnston once more, the 23-year-old had high hopes of recapturing the form that won him a move to Tynecastle in 2015.

But the move across the Forth hasn’t worked out in the way that he wanted, with a shortage of goals and starts – coupled with injury and, by his own admission, a dip in confidence – making it a tough year.

He did return to the starting line-up for Saturday’s 2-0 win at Dumbarton – ironically his first in the league since Dunfermline’s previous visit there in October – in the absence of Nicky Clark and now he’s determined to make the most of what remains of his Athletic spell.

Speaking to Press Sport, he commented: “Frustrating is probably the best word I’d use to describe this season, especially scoring-wise. When you’re scoring goals it happens naturally but, as a team, we weren’t as much at the start of the season and were trying to force things too much. We started to pick up a bit and then I got injured, so I was back to square one fighting to get back fit. I was out for two months and guys were taking their chance but that happens and players go through that in football.

“It’s about getting a run of games because it’s hard to get that consistency. Being out for two months meant I almost had to start again, and I’ve generally been very good at avoiding injury so far in my career, so that was one of the worst. I was waiting and lingering for a chance, which was hard because the team have been doing well.”

Reilly, who has hit the net just twice for the Pars, admitted that being sidelined with a groin injury before Christmas did dent his self-belief, and continued: “Any footballer who picks up an injury will tell you that you do doubt yourself but you have to keep your confidence and spirits high. At first it is hard but then you think that there are people out there who are dying for this sort of chance. I’ve got to be grateful to be doing something that I love.

“I’ve got to take the positives from this and build for the future. I’ve enjoyed my time here; it’s a great dressing room and the fans have been brilliant but I’m frustrated with how it’s gone.

“For me now, it’s about trying to get as much out of the last three games.”

The frontman will return to his parent club in pre-season – he’s under contract in Gorgie until next summer – but he’s unsure whether his long-term future lies in the capital.

The Jambos have changed manager during Reilly’s time at East End, with Ian Cathro replacing Robbie Neilson, the man who signed him, and the striker said: “I’ve got another year on my contract and my agent has spoken to him (Cathro) a couple of times but other than that I’ve had no indication about what will happen. I see it as an opportunity go back and try to impress the manager; everyone who’s out on loan will see it as a clean slate.

“I’ll do pre-season first and then I’ll have to see what’s best for me and for Hearts. I’m 24 next season so it’s a big one for me; I don’t want to go back to be in and out, I’m looking to play a lot more football. I need to go back to having a season like I had in my last at Queens.”

Until then though, Reilly hopes to sign off his time with Dunfermline on a high note and says his team-mates will give it their all to produce positive results in their final three matches, starting with Falkirk this weekend.

He added: “I knew Raith was a big one but I didn’t realise just how fiery the (Falkirk) game was. We’ve not beaten them this season so we’re looking to turn that around on Saturday and we’re at home, which is a positive.

“They’ll be wanting to finish as high in the table as possible but we’ve got half a chance of making the play-offs. We’ll take it game by game and, if we win and Morton don’t, then they’ll maybe come here a wee bit scared.

“We can only focus on ourselves but you just never know what can happen.”