CAPTAIN Graham Dorrans is ahead of schedule in his recovery from injury and could play a part against Queen of the South.

The 34-year-old has been missing since a defeat at Arbroath on March 5 but could be involved if he has no reaction to further training that had been planned.

Boss John Hughes had anticipated that the former Scotland cap would come into contention if he was able to train on Tuesday, having done “a lot more training on Monday than he has done”, and suggested even a substitute appearance could be of benefit to the side.

“I think he’s got half an hour in him,” he said.

“But if you saw Graham Dorrans the last time we played down at Queen of the South (a 2-0 win in January), that half an hour of that kind of quality could be the difference-maker.

“That’s probably what he’s got in him at this moment in time but if he was injury-free I would be prepared to take that chance.”

Hughes also revealed that Deniz Mehmet was not named on the bench at Partick Thistle on Saturday because of COVID-19 but was due to return, while Lewis Martin has also returned to training after injury.

“There’s good numbers to pick from,” he continued.

“It’s standing up to what’s at stake and having the realism to say right, OK, I’m up for his, and we’ll be OK.

“It is what it is but we’re still in there giving ourselves a fighting chance. Nobody wanted to be here but we’ve given ourselves a fighting chance and that’s all credit to the players. Could it have been better, should it have been better? Yep, but a lot of clubs over the years have said that.

“At least we’re in there and given ourselves a right, good, fighting chance, and when you’re in with a chance, you never know, it might just go your way.”

Dunfermline go into tonight's game knowing that a win, combined with Ayr United not beating Partick Thistle, would see them finish eighth and avoid the Championship play-offs.

If the Pars lose, they will stay ninth and enter the end-of-season matches featuring League One clubs Airdrieonians, Montrose and Queen’s Park, while a draw, and an Ayr defeat, would see the final placings decided by either goal difference, goals scored, or the teams’ head-to-head record.

READ MORE: SPFL confirm Pars potential play-off dates

When asked if it was important to not dwell on what has gone before, Hughes replied: “One hundred per cent. That’s what your focus has to be.

“The last time we were at home, although we won 2-1 against Ayr United, we weren’t at our best, so we have to really concentrate on the performance and get back to those high performances levels.

“If we do that, then I’m confident that can win us the match.”

Meanwhile, Leon Jones has been praised as an “unbelievable professional” by his manager after making only his second Pars appearance on Saturday.

Hughes says that he “can’t speak highly enough” of the 24-year-old, who found himself drafted into the starting line-up for the defeat at Partick Thistle as part of a three-man central defence.

Signed by Hughes’ predecessor, Peter Grant, last summer on a one-year deal having played previously  with Kentucky Wildcats in the United States, Jones has not had much game time since arriving at East End.

Dunfermline Press:

When he was handed his debut, in an August Fife derby at Raith Rovers, his match – and that of the other 22 players – was over after less than 15 minutes after a power failure at Stark’s Park caused the match to be abandoned, meaning that his bow did not count officially in the record books.

Jones (pictured above), a former Scotland youth cap who qualifies for Hong Kong and China in international football due to mum Jennifer hailing from the former, and her parents being born in the latter, returned to the team for a defeat at Ayr United in September but had not seen any action since until the weekend.

With Coll Donaldson failing to recover from an injury that saw him forced off at half-time during the match with Ayr the previous week, Hughes selected Jones and Rhys Breen to play alongside Efe Ambrose at the heart of defence, with Aaron Comrie and Josh Edwards deployed at wing back.

When asked how he felt Jones did, Hughes said: “Leon’s probably one of the best professionals at the club. If they could all follow Leon’s attitude and example ... he’s an unbelievable professional.

“He was unlucky; he was in the team, six weeks ago, and then he pulled out with COVID.

“Lewis Martin is another one that’s injured so we just felt going into that game on Saturday that, to put either Leon in with Efe, or Rhys in with Efe, with the back four, it might’ve been a difficult task when they have not playing first-team football.

“I’ve been there; you’re using your own experience in being there. We just felt it was only fair on him if we went a five at the back, with the experience of Efe in between them, plus being away from home.

“But, Leon, you can’t ask for a better professional. If they were all like Leon, this club would be in a great, great place, because I can’t speak highly enough of him and the way he conducts himself.”