CRAIG WIGHTON believes that momentum and keeping most of Athletic's title-winning squad together can help them enjoy a successful return to the Championship.

The 25-year-old, who was named as the cinch League One Player of the Month for April, is confident that the team can return to the second tier with belief on the back of a club record 24-game unbeaten league run.

Their final day win at Alloa Athletic, in which Wighton notched his 20th goal of the campaign, ensured Dunfermline finished 14 points clear of League One runners-up Falkirk, having won 23 of their 36 games, suffering just one defeat.

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The final makeup of the division they're returning to after a season away is still to be decided, with the Championship play-offs underway, and relegation from the top flight to be determined, but the Pars number nine reckons the ingredients are already at KDM Group East End Park for a positive campaign next term.

"I think most of the boys in the team have played at that level before, so it won't be new to many of us, but it's a tough league, as is this league," he said.

"Every week, whether it's here (at East End) or away, it's a different challenge. They're all just as hard as each other, so we'll see who's in the league, first and foremost, as well, and then we'll take care of that when it comes to it. If we can keep a lot of the squad together, and add a few more, then I'm sure we'll have a positive season.

"I'm sure we'll add a few. We'll get pre-season out the way and see how we're looking, but we'll go into it full of confidence, like we did this year. We'll keep whatever it is in-house, but we're quietly confident that, if we work as hard as we did this year, we'll see what happens.

"We've got a good togetherness here and, like I say, I'm sure the manager will add a few more, but the players he's added this year are good guys as well. That's been a big thing as well I think.

"I think, even with the supporters, we've all connected again after what happened last year. We'd be stupid not to use that momentum and try and build on it."

On his personal accolade, Wighton noted: "It's good. It's nice to get these things.

"I'm delighted to get that. It was a good month in terms of goals but, as a team, you probably could've gave it to anyone the last month. We had some big games, and big (Lewis) McCann as well did really well, setting a few of my goals up.

"It was a big month with some big games. We knew it was going to be a tough month, with some hard fixtures, but it's good to get it in that month. I scored a few goals, so I was delighted with that."

Wighton has enjoyed the best goalscoring season of his career, despite fitness issues in its early stages, but, after bagging his 20th of the season against Alloa, joked that it looked like he was "trying my hardest first half not to get it".

"I could've had a hat-trick on another day, but I'm glad in the end that I got it," he added.

"I was maybe trying too hard I think first half, because it was in the back of my mind, obviously. We had a lot of chances so, even if it wasn't that one, I knew that I would keep getting the chances.

"It's been my best season; I think it's probably the most games I've played in a season as well, if I'm right. I've been fit most of the season – it's probably the best I've felt, and the most I've enjoyed my football.

"Hopefully I can take that into next year as well and kick on."