CHRIS KANE is relishing the challenge of lifting Dunfermline up the Championship table and is hopeful a reunion with a former St Johnstone team-mate can yield success.

The 29-year-old has joined an Athletic side fighting to move away from the bottom end of the second tier, and is eager to play his part after making a loan move from St Johnstone.

He made his debut in Saturday's draw with Arbroath, completing his first full 90 minutes since December 2021 in the process, and would've marked it with the winning goal had the woodwork not denied him.

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Kane, though, is confident his all-round game will help the Pars create more opportunities, and hopes he and Michael O'Halloran can link-up to similar effect as they did while playing together in Perth.

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"He’s assisted me a good few times at Saints, so hopefully we can combine here and get a few more goals and assists between us," he said.

"It’s good to have someone whose game you know in the team. Everyone knows his pace. If the ball’s coming to me, I know he’s going to be wanting to run or get playing in behind. That’s the first thing I’ll think of, and he knows me well enough to know where I want the ball, so, hopefully, we do get quite a lot of minutes together.

"There’s loads of good players in the team, so, if the ball can get up to me, and I hold it in and do what I can do well, then it will link in with the midfielders and the wingers, and hopefully that will create more chances for us."

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Kane's experience - he's won a Scottish and League Cup double with St Johnstone across 244 appearances, and played for them in European competition - is something Pars boss James McPake was keen to add to his squad.

"I’ve played for Saints for ten years now. I know that you’re always going to be in a fight," he continued.

"It’s something I’ve looked forward to in every season I’ve played. I’ve come here and it’s a challenge. Everyone plays football for challenges, so hopefully I can play my part and help us get out of that.

"Even when I first came in, the team was eight games without a win but the boys don’t seem like that. They’re in great spirits, the changing room is great, there’s a good atmosphere around the whole place.

"Hopefully I can help keep the spirits up and chip in with a few goals and we get the results to push up that table."

Although disappointed not to score on Saturday, Kane was happy with completing the game against the Lichties, which he believes will benefit him for the remainder of the season.

"I was a bit disappointed with that," he said of heading against the post late-on.

"I’ve seen it back and it is a tight angle. I thought that at the time, but maybe I should do better, maybe not. But, hopefully, the goals will come.

"I can’t remember the last time I actually completed a full game but I had that bad injury, got through the end of it and I’m back playing now," he added.

"So, I’m just thankful I’m keeping myself fit and hopefully some goals and results will come.

"It was my first minutes this year, I’ve not played this year, so I had a bit of cramp kicking in. But that happens in games.

"The boys were saying they didn’t feel like I was tiring, and I didn’t feel like I was tiring, so it was was good for me mentally and physically.

"Hopefully I can kick on and get to complete more 90 minutes."