Dunfermline: Livingston's Miles Welch-Hayes on Pars loan

The 27-year-old is relishing the opportunity to play regularly at KDM Group East End Park after arriving on a temporary basis until the end of the season from Livingston last month.

Welch-Hayes, a full back, scored his first goal for Athletic in his sixth appearance, heading home the decisive effort in the 1-0 win at Greenock Morton.

Welch-Hayes' first Dunfermline goal gave them a vital win at Greenock Morton. (Image: Craig Brown.)

After joining the Lions, who sit bottom of the top flight, in the summer, the Englishman was restricted to just three appearances for Davie Martindale's side - the first of which didn't happen until November - due to injury.

"I’m very grateful to the gaffer for giving me the opportunity. I have not played much football this season which is very frustrating," he told the Pars website.

"You can’t really show your ability when you are not playing, so I’m very grateful to the club for giving me this opportunity, and just happy to find my feet.

"I have not played much football so, when I came, I needed to make sure that I was ready, so I have just been working hard staying ready for any opportunity. I feel that I’m finding my feet a bit now. I still have a lot of things to work on, but I’ll keep my head down and keep trying to help the team.

"It is a very good team and I’m enjoying myself, probably the happiest that I have been with football for a while now. I’m really enjoying my time at the club, the fans, all the staff – it seems like a big family club. Everyone is together so it’s nice to be here, I’m really enjoying my time."

Whilst Dunfermline go into this weekend's trip to Arbroath sitting fifth in the Championship, retaining aspirations of gatecrashing the promotion play-off places, as well as looking to at least maintain the six-point cushion they have over Inverness Caledonian Thistle, who sit second bottom and in the relegation play-off spot, Welch-Hayes' parent club face a tough challenge to stay in the top flight.

They are 10 points adrift of second bottom Ross County, with eight games to go, and Welch-Hayes added: "It is tough because I have some really close friends at Livingston.

"I hope they do pick up some points. I know it’s going to be very tough, it’s been a tough season but I’m here now and I just try to focus on what I can control.

"I haven’t played much there and I haven’t been given much opportunity there, so I can’t really do anything to help. I’m not bitter or anything like that I really do hope that they start picking up points.

"I do wish the best for the club, and obviously I have still got two years left on my contract there, but I’ve not been played and it’s out of my control."