Dunfermline: Craig Wighton previews Dundee United clash

James McPake's side make their second league visit of the season to Tannadice on Saturday for what is scheduled to be their first game in just over three weeks, having seen their last two matches, at home to Airdrieonians and Queen's Park, postponed.

The Pars are looking for a first win in five outings, and a fourth win on the road, against a United outfit who top the table on goal difference.

Only Raith Rovers, the side immediately behind them, and Greenock Morton, in the Tangerines' last home game, have left Tannadice with maximum points this term.

In August, however, Wighton's second half header put Athletic on course to be the first to do so, only for Mathew Cudjoe to fire home an equaliser deep into stoppage time.

Craig Wighton netted for the Pars in their 1-1 draw at Tannadice in August. (Image: Craig Brown.)

Speaking to Press Sport this week, the Pars number nine - who is back training after having an injection in his knee prior to the cancelled Airdrie game on January 13 - said: "They're top of the league for a reason.

"They don't concede many goals, so we know it'll be tough, but the two games we've had against them have been very close.

"We were unlucky at Tannadice earlier on in the season. It's a last minute wonder goal, and it's two points dropped, but that's one of these things that happens. We've showed over the two games that we can compete with them and, even the game at home (which Pars lost 2-1 in November), we were unlucky. In the end I think we probably deserved a point that night as well.

"We'll take confidence from those games, we'll go up there with a game plan and it's up to us on the day to go and execute that, but we'll ready for it. It's a game we're looking forward to - it's a good stadium, should be a good crowd and a good atmosphere.

"They're always big games against United. They're a big club, big budget and big fanbase, so we know it'll be tough, but that is the games you want to be involved in. We need to thrive on that.

"Obviously the travelling support the last time we were up there was really good, and it'll probably be the same again, so hopefully we can send them down the road happy."

Wighton said that the Pars players are "itching" to return to action after two weeks idle, and is hopeful the break has helped him with the flare up in his knee.

"It's more just frustrating than anything because you are carrying that wee knock," he continued.

"Obviously Ben (Summers) was the same - there's a few other boys as well. We'd played a few games and, just with the way it worked out, we hardly had any bodies, so boys that maybe probably would've got rested, had to play.

"It's one of these things. It wasn't an injury that I couldn't play with - it was more just niggling away and a frustrating one. Hopefully that's it settled down now. I'm sure Ben will be the same, he's had time to let his ankle settle and he's been training away.

"Hopefully, going forward, that's behind us and we can get a few boys back from injuries as well, and see where it takes us. It's been a difficult wee spell with everything that's going on, but we just need to get back to doing what we're good at, and try to get back to winning ways."

Pars assistant boss Dave Mackay confirmed that Wighton, Sam Fisher and Lewis McCann should both be available for Saturday, and said that Aaron Comrie's "coming along well" in his recovery from a calf injury, but won't be involved at the weekend.

"It's a massive test against a top team. We played well the last time we were up there at the beginning of the season (in the league), albeit we had more or less a fully fit squad, but we'll go up there expecting to put in a good performance," he said.

"We've seen teams can go up there and take points. Obviously the last team that visited, Morton, came away with three points, so we'll be hoping to do something similar on Saturday."