By Graeme Dey

DUNFERMLINE boss Jim McIntyre found himself in familiar surroundings yesterday as the Pars squad checked into their pre- season training camp in Obertraun.

McIntyre went through the build up to the 2002-2003 campaign here with Alex Smith’s Dundee United squad, then returned two years later with the Tangerines when Ian McCall was boss.

And it was the entirely positive nature of those experiences that prompted him to utilise the facilities of the Austrian National Training Centre for what is the first pre-season he has overseen in management.

“When the chance to take Dunfermline back here arose we had to go for it,” he said.

“I was really impressed with the place when I twice visited it with United.

“It’s a perfect environment to get a group of players together—especially when you’ve some new guys come on board—to mould them into what you want.

“And in terms of facilities you won’t find better surfaces to train on.

“The pitches are different class and, all round, Obertraun offers us the chance to get a week of high quality work done. That’s why some days we’ll be doing three sessions.

“And the games we’ve got while we’re here also look to be of a good standard, which is exactly what I wanted.”

McIntyre is not alone in having used the facilities previously, with goalkeeper Paul Gallacher a clubmate of his during one of United’s visits, while Stephen Glass trained with Hibs at Obertraun 12 months ago.

The Pars face Ukrainians FC Metallurg Zaporozhye tomorrow before tackling Romanian second division outfit CFR Timisoara on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, crocked Pars youngster Greg Ross hopes within the next few days to start getting his career back on track.

Ross played just once last season after missing the 2007 Tennents Scottish Cup final and under-20 World Cup finals following surgery to his left knee.

But next week he expects to get the green light to resume running after recovering from a second operation.

“I’m going back to see the surgeon on Wednesday for a check up,” said Ross.

“And hopefully I’ll be able to start jogging thereafter and kick on from there.

“I wouldn’t wish what’s happened to me on anybody. I was looking back the other day and realised it’s two years ago that I had the first scan done on the knee.

He continued, “When I got the first op just over a year back I didn’t envisage I’d be out for so long.

“Then they took away part of the bone from the kneecap. But it just never healed.

“So 16 weeks ago I’d a bone graft and some inflammation around the tendon removed.

“It’s definitely better this time. I’ve started feeling stronger the last few days.

“And with any luck there’s now some light at the end of the tunnel.

“So far this pre-season I’ve been confined to the bike and the cross trainer.

“But hopefully I’m about to move on from that.

“It’ll take a good while to catch up fitness wise. They are saying I’ll need a full month’s running before I can get back into training.

“And I’m not going to rush things.

“Seeing the lads return for pre-season so full of enthusiasm I’m desperate to get back playing, but I need to make sure I come back right this time.”