Dunfermline: Matty Todd praises team-mate Kane Ritchie-Hosler

The 22-year-old played his 100th game for Athletic on Friday evening against Dundee United and opened the scoring to set his team on their way to an impressive 3-1 victory.

Ritchie-Hosler provided the assist for Todd to mark his big night with his 17th goal in black and white, before netting a brace of his own to secure three points against the Championship leaders.

Those were Ritchie-Hosler's first goals of a campaign which, like Todd, has been disrupted through injury.

Both players suffered ankle problems in the summer that required operations, whilst Todd, following his return, then picked up a hamstring problem in December, which sidelined him until last month.

Ritchie-Hosler needed surgery on a knee issue picked up after he made his initial return to action in September but, after recovering from that, he suffered bad luck again when he dislocated his shoulder in a match at home to Arbroath in late November.

That required a further operation, which kept him out until his return against Airdrieonians earlier this month, and Todd was thrilled to see his pal join him on the scoresheet against United.

Todd (left) was delighted to see Ritchie-Hosler (right) also on the scoresheet against United. (Image: Craig Brown.)

"The wee man has had such a hard time, nobody can say that he hasn’t," he told Press Sport.

"He has been through it all since the start of the season, but he has worked his absolute socks off to get back, and Friday night was for him. It was a superb individual performance from Kane. He was brilliant all night and he took his two goals outstandingly well. Overall, what a player.

READ MORE: Matty's delight as landmark Pars appearance ends in glory

"I talked about Kane’s injuries I’ve had my fair share of mine over the last months, but they are behind me now. Obviously it is a huge achievement (to reach 100 games). I'm just over the moon.

"It has been a tough time but to hit the 100 mark, and top it off with a goal, is just amazing.

"The manager honestly is on at me all the time about that, arriving late in the box, just making sure that I make the right contact on the ball. I always say that I want to keep adding goals and adding assists to my game."

Fans favourite Todd salutes the crowd (Image: Craig Brown.)

READ MORE: Pars 'can back up United win by maintaining performance level' says boss

The win over United came after two successive defeats, to Airdrieonians and Raith Rovers, and leaves them sixth in the table with seven games to go.

They are four points outside fourth place, occupied by Airdrie, and the final Premiership promotion play-off place, having played a game more, but also four clear of Inverness Caledonian Thistle, who sit second bottom in the relegation play-off slot.

READ MORE: 'It's massive for me': Pars star Kane's 'buzzing' after netting United double

Dunfermline go to Cappielow, where they won in November, to play Greenock Morton, who are one place and two points above them, this Saturday.

The Pars were on the end of a sobering 5-0 home loss to the 'Ton at the beginning of last month, but Todd believes their performance against United can "only do good things" for them going into the game this weekend.

"We need to keep going, maintaining what we have done on Friday night," he continued.

"Over the last couple of weeks, I think that we have been good, it is just results have just not gone our way. The performance has been good but, against Dundee United, we turned it on and thoroughly deserved the three points.

"They played us here a couple of months back and had their way about it. We have to go down to Cappielow full of confidence and hopefully we pick up another three points.

"The squad is now full of good players. A lot of the boys we had last season are now fully fit and, as folk say, we are getting to the business end of the year.

"That changing room is outstanding; everyone has got their backs in there, everyone looks after each other. It is a right good team spirit in there."