LOANEE James Vincent is open to a permanent Pars switch in the summer but admits his parent club will have the final say.

The versatile midfielder was out of favour at Dundee when he was recruited by Allan Johnston in January, and told Press Sport this week that a move to East End Park for an extended stay would be of interest.

He has been an ever-present in Dunfermline’s midfield since his arrival, and the Englishman is optimistic about his future.

Vincent, whose contract expires at Dundee in the summer of 2019, said: “I’ve loved every moment of playing here. I’m so grateful to both the manager and the chairman for giving me the opportunity to come and play here. My career was almost stagnating at Dundee so I needed the move.

“In terms of my future, I’m open to anything.

“It’s a discussion I will have with my parent club first and then see where we’re at from there.

“At the end of the day, Dundee hold the cards so to speak.

“It’s a conversation that I haven’t had with them yet. It’s one that either myself, the manager (ex-Par coach Neil McCann) or my agent will be having in the coming weeks.

“I’m in the dark as much as everyone else. All I can say is that I’m enjoying my football again, which I hadn’t done for a while. Coming to Dunfermline has given me a bit of joy and happiness that I hadn’t had. Again, I’m very thankful that I was given the chance to come here.”

The 28-year-old has made seven starts since joining, deployed in both an advanced central midfield position and at the base of Johnston’s midfield diamond.

He was industrious in the 1-1 draw against Dundee United and laughed off suggestions his Dundee colours were showing through against their local rivals.

“A few people have asked me that now but there really wasn’t any added incentive,” he commented.

“I played the game as a Dunfermline player, that’s where my head is at right now. I didn’t even think about Dundee.

“I felt I played well and got stuck in and, like the rest of the team, felt we were unlucky not to get the three points that we felt we deserved.

“We’ve been more cohesive in games recently and I feel along with Tom (Beadling), Crags (James Craigen) and Higgy (Kallum Higginbotham), we’ve really worked well together in midfield and the understanding between us has improved with more game time.

"I don't mind whether I play more defensively or further forward. I like different parts of both roles.

"Sitting deeper, I like having that level of control where I can dictate and provide a platform for the guys to build on.

"When I first came in, I was ahead of Tom, and he was the one doing what I'm doing now.

"But the gaffer has swapped us around recently and I think it's been working well."