STEVEN LAWLESS is hopeful that teaming up with Athletic will be a “good marriage” and end a frustrating 18-month spell.

The 30-year-old former Partick Thistle winger became John Hughes’ first signing as Pars boss on Monday, agreeing a deal until the end of the season, and could make his debut in Sunday’s derby at Raith Rovers.

Lawless, who helped the Jags win the First Division title in 2013, arrives at East End having left Motherwell – with whom he began his career – for a second time in October by mutual consent.

Since departing Partick in 2018, a two-year spell with Livingston – with whom he has been training, featuring in a bounce match with the Pars recently – six months with Burton Albion and a return to Fir Park last January have followed, with Lawless describing that time as having not gone to plan.

But, speaking to Press Sport, he is confident that not only can he help Dunfermline up the Championship table, Hughes, who had been working on the deal for a few weeks, can get the best out of him.

“The last year and a half hasn’t gone to plan for myself to be honest through various reasons,” he said.

“I’m just looking forward to try and hopefully get a run of games in my actual position and showing again what I can do when I get the chance to play there, because I feel like I’ve been under-utilised there in the last year and a half probably.

“I’ve played in more games in centre mid than I have on the wing in the last year and a half probably. That’s obviously been a bit frustrating because that’s never been my game, being a centre mid; you’re not got going to get the best out of me there.

“I’ve played years and years on the wing. That’s where I feel you’re going to get the best out of me and I feel like I’m not going to be hampered basically.

“I’m looking forward to getting a run of games there. That was a massive part of me signing, speaking to the manager, and I know the way he wants to play.

“I’ve played against his Inverness team and it’ll be a good experience I think. Hopefully, I’ll get back to enjoying football again because that style of football does that for certain players.

“Hopefully, it could be a good marriage.”

Hughes added: “He can unlock the door, he can play a pass, he can look after the ball. He works very very hard and he’s a winner.”