CALLUM SMITH admits he had no hesitation in accepting a deadline day loan move – and is determined to use it to play his way back into the Pars first team.

In a deal that took many supporters by surprise, the 18-year-old completed a switch to League One Alloa Athletic last Wednesday until the end of the season and made his debut in their win at Ayr United on Saturday.

Scotland under-19 cap Smith, who teams up with ex-Pars youngster PJ Crossan, who is also on loan at the Wasps from Celtic, believes that a stint with Jim Goodwin’s team will be more beneficial for his development than sporadic appearances from the bench at Dunfermline.

After starting the first four league games of the season – and the Betfred Cup group stage game at Hearts – Smith’s game time has been more limited in recent weeks as Declan McManus and Nicky Clark have been preferred up front.

Speaking to Press Sport this week, he commented: “I never actually got told about it until deadline day. The gaffer phoned me about 2pm or something and said that Alloa were interested in me, and asked me if I wanted to go out on loan.

“I just said aye right away because I just want game time. Obviously I’ve not been getting that here the now so I just want to go somewhere where I can hopefully play.

“I love playing in the first team but it’s not going my way just now, so anywhere where I can play, I’ll do it because I just want to play minutes on the pitch.

“There’s no (under) 20s this year; Potts (John Potter) tries to get some games for us, but it’s not every week. We had a game on Tuesday but I need to go and play somewhere every week.

“I think it will be a good thing for me and hopefully will develop me a lot so that I’m ready for the first team when I come back.”

Smith, who came on as a 75th-minute substitute for his Alloa bow at Somerset, had hoped to maintain his place in Allan Johnston’s line-up but knows that, in his own words, he still has a lot to learn.

And he believes he will gain invaluable experience in Clackmannanshire among a group of players that have immediately impressed him.

“I was wanting to play every week but I didn’t expect it because I am so young and have still got a lot to learn,” he continued.

“I just turned 18 in November so hopefully I can go and impress at Alloa, the manager sees that and plays me when I come back.

“Alloa’s a decent team; they’re pushing for promotion to come into this league, so it’s not like it’s much of a drop. It’s a good team to play for.

“We just beat Ayr United at the weekend; they’re a full-time club as well so it was a great result. We’re doing really well just now and hopefully we can push on.

“It’s a good club, a good manager, good training and all the boys are sound so I’m really enjoying it so far.”

Although he has headed to the Indodrill Stadium having been a regular fixture in the Pars’ first-team squad, and having played for Scotland’s under-19s this year, Smith – who trains one night a week with the Wasps – is not taking his place in their team for granted.

But he is desperate to feature as often as possible to provide a springboard for what he hopes will be a long-term future of leading the line for a Dunfermline team that he cares passionately about.

“That’s my aim but, to be fair, there are a few decent strikers so it is going to be hard for me to try and compete to get in the team,” Smith added.

“But I just need to try and prove myself. It is a good standard and I’m going to do my best to try and get in the team, hopefully prove myself to come back and play here every week. Every game I play, I feel better myself for it.

“I’ve always loved playing with Dunfermline. Hopefully I am part of the future and will start every week for them.

“That’s my plan.”