Dunfermline's Ewan Otoo on midfield role after goal in Arbroath win

The 21-year-old scored his second goal of the campaign, in his 35th appearance, to open the scoring in Athletic's 3-2 win at Arbroath, which put them fourth in the Championship.

Signed permanently in the summer from Celtic after a successful loan period last term, Otoo has enjoyed an impressive season so far with James McPake's side, which has seen him deployed in both defensive and midfield roles.

In recent weeks, he has been fielded in the latter, and found himself on hand to lash home a fine effort from the edge of the penalty area at Gayfield.

"I am happy with that one," he said post-match.

"Obviously, it is always good when you score a goal, a great feeling. I felt that it was coming, I genuinely did.

"I am really happy to have that run in midfield. The manager has given me that role, had faith in me to go and play in there. Hopefully I am repaying that faith.

"I’m really enjoying it as well. I feel like I get the best out of the match playing there - I really enjoy that."

Of the games he's played so far this season across all competitions, Otoo has started in each of them which, along with only being substituted twice, highlights how key a player he has been for McPake on Dunfermline's return to the second tier.

"I'm loving every minute of it," Otoo continued.

"I'm playing a lot of minutes as well. That was the main thing for me coming here this season - to try and play as many minutes as I can and develop as much as I can. I'm really grateful that I’m able to play as much at the minute, and hopefully I will stay injury free so that I can continue that on until the end of the season.”

Ewan Otoo has been a key player for James McPake this season. (Image: Craig Brown.)

Pars take on Partick Thistle this weekend at KDM Group East End Park after picking up three successive league wins for the first time this season.

Although they lost home and away to the Jags, who sit third in the table in the chase for places in the Premiership promotion play-offs, earlier in the season, Dunfermline won the last meeting of the teams in February thanks to a 3-1 success at Firhill.

They moved into a 3-0 lead against the bottom-placed Lichties by half-time on Saturday, but endured a nervy end to the match, following the concession of two second half goals .

"That second half from us, by our standards, just wasn’t good enough," Otoo added.

"We took our foot off the gas and, in this league, if you do that you can fall right under. We know that it is not good enough at the end of the day to concede two goals, and be under the cosh in that manner, after being 3-0 up at half time.”