DERBY day hero Lewis McCann said he could understand the stresses of supporters watching their team after a spell on the sidelines.

But he hoped he had made those of a Dunfermline persuasion’s Christmas by netting a vital winner on his comeback – and make up for what he described as “not a great start”.

Although lamenting giving away possession in the build-up to Alfredo Agyeman’s opener for Kelty Hearts, an impressive first appearance since October, following a hamstring injury, by the 21-year-old from the bench was capped with the winner after Tam O’Ware put through his own net to square the game.

It was the Northern Ireland under-21 cap’s sixth goal in 15 games this season and came after he had played in a bounce game against Dundee United last week.

McCann commented: “It is stressful to say the least just watching; I see how the fans feel now!

“When you are in the stand injured, and can’t do anything, it is quite hard to deal with. I am happy to be back and happy to make an impact as well.

“I think if the physio team wasn’t as strong as it is, then I would have been able to say, ‘Look, I am fine to come back’, but I could have done something stupid and done it again. Or, even worse, hurt something else.

“I am glad that they put their foot down and said, no, this is the timeline, this is when you are coming back and this is what we are going to do, and you have to do all this before you come back.

“They weren’t risking anything. I could have come back earlier but they made sure that I was 100 per cent to come back and not do something silly.”

McCann, who joked that his legs were “knackered” after the game, was the first to be called upon by his manager, James McPake, to try to change it from the bench, before a triple substitution was made moments before the Pars equalised.

McCann continued: “I’m glad that I’m that figure but the next aim is to keep going, keep winning games and keep the streak going.

“I trust the gaffer and whatever he is thinking. Whatever he tells you I trust that is right for what he thinks the game is going like and what he wants the game to go like. Whatever he wants us to do, we will do.

“Obviously, it is a dream to come back, isn’t it? I am just happy that we came away with the win.

“Hopefully, we can keep this going, take it game by game and next up is Falkirk.”