BY HIS own admission, this year has been tough on and off the pitch for Mark Connolly.

But the on-loan Dundee United defender is out to make sure he finishes 2021 on a high note in Dunfermline colours, and wants that process to start by downing his old club this weekend for a first league win of the campaign.

Former Republic of Ireland under-21 cap Connolly, 29, joined Peter Grant's side on loan until January ahead of last month's derby at Raith Rovers, prior to which he made a solitary substitute appearance for his parent club since sustaining a posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injury in May.

That came on the back of a family bereavement and, while he admits that it has been a testing time, he is relishing the chance of playing regularly and helping the struggling Pars climb the Championship table.

Second-top Kilmarnock, with whom Connolly spent two years with and had a spell captaining, visit East End on Saturday, who will have ex-Athletic skipper, Euan Murray, and namesake Fraser, who was at the club on loan from Hibernian last season, among their ranks.

The importance of the match is not lost on Connolly, who talked Press Sport through his move from Tannadice.

"It was a late call Tuesday night and then, all of a sudden, I hadn't trained with the boys and I played on Wednesday," he explained.

"I hadn't played in a good few months with injury and coming back and not getting into the team at United, then I've played two games in three days. It's been a quick turnaround but this is football; this is what you keep yourself ready for, if these situations arise.

"I've had a tough year with losing my father in February, and being out of the team with that, and then doing a PCL injury second last game of the season, then only coming back recently.

"It has been a tough year but I'm past it all now. I'm back playing football, training all the time and just looking to make sure I finish off the year on a high. That's the aim I've had with myself and family when I've spoken about it; I want to come to Dunfermline, help out as much as I can, try and push the team up the table, and finish a year that probably hasn't been one of my best years on a high and go from there.

"I think I've come in and feel like I've done alright but I'll hopefully get a few more training sessions under my belt and I can properly push on.

"To be fair, having had two games, I feel much better for it already."

Connolly is hoping that the international break following Dunfermline's last game – a late defeat at Queen of the South – can help them turn things around against Killie as he relishes helping guide the younger members of the squad through the difficult predicament they face currently.

"So far it's been brilliant. The boys have all made me feel very welcome," he continued.

"It's been quite easy to come into the dressing they have there because they're all good lads. Obviously, you can understand you come in at times and sometimes the boys might be a little bit down because of the position they're in; they're not jumping around happy-as-Larry because they're bottom of the table.

"Hopefully, I can come in and help out in whatever way I can, on and off the pitch. It's a good group of boys and we're just desperate to get the results, push the confidence up and push the club forward. There's players in that dressing room that can do it; a little bit of luck, hard work and I'm sure it will turn.

"We've got a young group that are lacking a little bit of confidence right now so if I can help in any way, that's my priority at the moment. The next game, which is the big one, Kilmarnock at home – we want to make sure we turn up and put on a right performance and get a result.

"I've been at various clubs, even at Kilmarnock where I was captain, where I'd say I'd be more of a talker on the pitch and try and help out and drive boys on as positively as I can.

"I think that's probably one of the main things why the manager and the football club brought me in as well so I'm here to help out and repay them for taking me in at such short notice."