ATHLETIC new boy Chris Mochrie is relishing the opportunity to handle the expectation that will come with his new club in League One.

The 19-year-old is excited by the prospect of playing in a side that will have high hopes of making an immediate return to the Championship after enjoying the perfect start to life at East End on Saturday.

Just 24 hours after his loan move from Dundee United was confirmed, and having only met up with his new team-mates once prior, the midfielder stepped off the bench at FC Edinburgh and helped himself to a goal in Dunfermline's 3-0 victory.

As introductions go, it couldn't have gone much better for Scotland under-19 cap Mochrie, who revealed that joining a team that has aspirations of challenging for the title was part of his decision to join.

"I knew about it for maybe a week or two, and I think there was just a few things needed to get sorted, but I was always interested in coming here," he said of Pars' interest in him.

"I think we're probably going to be thought of as being near the top of the league this year. I think that will be good for me, hopefully winning a lot of games, and just improving. Obviously, they've got a great fanbase as well, so hopefully it should improve me.

"I think there's big pressure on us to win every game, pretty much, so that's good for me as well, learning to deal with that kind of pressure, and the fans and stuff. I'm excited."

Mochrie, who said that his loan is for the season, but with his parent club having a recall option in January, could make his first appearance in front of the East End crowd against Montrose this weekend.

The Gable Endies, who are managed by Pars legend, Stewart Petrie, are a team he knows well, having played there on loan during the 2020/21 season.

That spell at Links Park gave him the urge to sample more regular first team football, as he continued: "When I was at Montrose, the league had stopped and then started again; it was a bit all over the place. Hopefully I can get a full season of good football under my belt, and hopefully that improves me.

"I'm still young – I'm only 19 – and I'm playing at a good standard. Hopefully I'll get as much game time, try and get goals and assists – that's another big thing – and hopefully help get the team promoted.

"I came back from Montrose and, last year, I played a few games, probably not as much as I wanted, so hopefully this year I can continue to keep playing and hopefully keep doing well."

If Mochrie can continue on from his first appearance in a Pars shirt, in which he coolly slotted home their third goal at Meadowbank, after latching on to Joe Chalmers' pass, then he could become a key player in the side.

"It's a perfect way to start I guess," he noted.

"The team were playing well, we were 2-0 up, they had a man down, and it was perfect for me to come on to. Thankfully I scored!

"I made a run in behind. It was a great pass from Joe, and hopefully I can get into these situations more and more, and start scoring more goals.

"I can play further up in the midfield, off the wide areas – it's just where the manager thinks I'll be best suited. I'm happy to play wherever.

"I'm definitely a more attacking player. I got the goal from playing on the left and running inside, so hopefully I can keep doing that."

Mochrie was also enthused by the desire of Pars boss, James McPake, to bring him to East End, who said: "We are pleased to get the deal over the line because there were a lot of clubs looking at him, so to get him, we are delighted.

"Chris is a player I have known for a number of years having seen him in the Dundee United youth teams when I was at Dundee. He is a player who I have admired, he has had two loan spells at Montrose already, he has played in the Dundee United first team and he is one that they have high hopes for the future."

Following the win at Edinburgh, assistant manager, Dave Mackay, added: "We've got a really small squad, so I think it's important, with the size of squad we have, that we've got some versatility in that, and we've got players that can play different positions.

"He falls into that category. He can play anywhere in the midfield, or attacking midfield just off the front, or he can play in wide areas. He showed that there. He started off out wide and then worked his way into central midfield.

"We need players who are adaptable, and make sure we can use the squad to the full."