RETURNING Pars star Aaron Comrie has said he was "desperate" to be back playing after a "horrible" period on the sidelines.

The 27-year-old made his comeback from a torn calf against Queen's Park on Saturday, having been out since the beginning of January, but was unable to prevent them slipping to defeat.

Comrie revealed that he was back in action a fortnight earlier than expected after being forced off, ironically, against the Spiders at Hampden last month, a game that the Pars also lost.

He's now setting his sights on the squad picking themselves up for a crunch game with Arbroath this weekend, with the Pars having now dropped to second bottom in the Championship table, one place above the Lichties.

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"It has been horrible," he replied when asked if he was relieved to be back post-match.

"I was probably meant to be out for another two weeks but I was just desperate to try and come back and help the boys. Hopefully next week will be nicer.

"I have only trained two days. It has been five weeks so I was just desperate to try and play. I feel pretty sore. I've not done much over the last five weeks, so it has been a wee bit zero to 100, but I just trying to help the boys.

"It needs to try and be a positive week. We will look at the game and see where we went wrong, what we can do better.

"There is no hiding away from it - it is a massive game next week. We will be under pressure so it is up to the boys to step up and show their quality."

READ MORE: Pars are 'in a relegation battle' admits boss

Pars boss, James McPake, has said that they are in a relegation battle but is confident that they will retain their Championship status, and Comrie has said the players are "all backing each other" to turn a run of eight games without a win around - and give their frustrated supporters something to cheer.

"I have said it a couple of times, the quality just needs to come out," he said.

"Confidence needs to lift and, hopefully next week, we can get the fans on side early doors, put pressure on Arbroath and lift the pressure off us.

"It is not nice getting beat. You don’t want to see that reaction. We know how many good players are in there. That’s the frustrating thing, it’s not quite coming out.

"I can totally understand why that’s the reaction. As players we need to try and change that and give them stuff to cheer, try and turn it around and win games. Once we do that I’m sure they will come with us and try and back the team."

When asked if hard work is the key, the full back commented: "I think that’s what it has got to be.

"We need the injured boys back as quick as we can. That’s been a big part of this season but, again, it’s hard work, and maybe just trying to nick an ugly win. Sometimes that’s all it takes.

"We tried to come out and play the game in their half, we tried to be bit more direct. We tried to get crosses and shots in but it just never happened for us. We kept going trying to get us out of this position. It has been a really poor run but there is enough quality in there to get us out of it.

"Obviously confidence will be low with the run that we’ve been on, but we tried to come out and give the fans something to cheer, but it just never happened. There was a lack of quality but the fight was there.

"We really are trying, hopefully things will turn."