ATHLETIC boss Stevie Crawford has declared himself “delighted” with the club’s latest additions – and has been boosted by the return of Dom Thomas.

Following last Wednesday’s derby-day drubbing of Raith Rovers, the Pars announced that they had snapped up Hearts attacker Craig Wighton on a pre-contract deal, as well as the signing of Lithuanian international defender Vytas Gašpuitis.

Wighton, who will join on June 1, and Gašpuitis have signed on for two and two-and-a-half years respectively, with the latter able to train with the squad as he completes a period of self-isolation following his arrival.

However, following Saturday’s reverse at Arbroath – which he maintained should not have gone ahead due to severe winds – Crawford will be able to call on the services of star winger Thomas for the visit of Dundee after it was revealed he had tested positive for COVID-19.

The 24-year-old, one of Dunfermline’s key men this season, has not been involved in any of their last three games, with Crawford explaining: “Dom Thomas is returning to training having tested positive for the virus. There’s certain issues we’re facing at this moment in time, and I’m not going to put everybody’s washing out there for them all to see.

“I was respectful of a situation with Dom but he’s faced it, he’s come through that isolation period and he’s now back training with us.

“First and foremost, football players are human beings as well. It’s something that Dom didn’t want to catch, the virus, but unfortunately he has.

“We’ve dealt with it. He’s not done anything wrong and we’ve tried to do everything in the manner we have and continue to respect the protocols.”

With training cancelled on Tuesday due to snow, the Pars players will undergo their latest round of coronavirus testing today (Thursday) before Saturday’s game, which is in the balance as West Fife continues to be gripped by wintry weather.

What isn’t in the balance is the arrivals of Wighton and Gašpuitis, with Crawford continuing: “We’re delighted as a football club.

“Craig was brought into senior football at the of 16. He’s played in the top division, he’s played in the Championship, and he’s been through a number of experiences in terms of that he’s faced injury problems, having to play under different managers, and that he’s worked under different coaches as well.

“I mainly see him as a striker; I think that’s where his future is for us, but it’s not to say he won’t be asked to play different roles. I think he’s a welcome addition to the players we’ve already got in the squad, and one that will do well for us.

“Vytas was one we’d done a bit of work on. The agent had been in touch with Ross (McArthur, chairman), and then me and Ross had several discussions on it.

“The obvious connection with us was he’d not long broken into the international set-up, and Andrius Skerla, at that moment, was working as assistant in the Lithuanian national team.

“He’s a centre half, 6ft 5, and we feel he’ll be a great addition.”

When asked if Wighton could potentially arrive on loan before he joins permanently, Crawford added: “In terms of any player that we’ve either brought to the club, or any player you work on, you explore different avenues and this felt the right fit at the time for where we were at.

“I know Craig’s hungry, he’s ambitious, and if you look at his last calendar year, his goal return is way better than what he’s managed to do in previous seasons.

“He’s managed to get a run of games under his belt over the last 12 months, so to get him on the pre-contract is an exciting one for us.”