Dunfermline signing Joe Cardle has started pre-season with a bang following his move from Airdrie, having impressed in all three matches and already bagged his first goal.

The winger opened his account with the winner against Stirling last week and has since put in solid displays at Blyth Spartans and at home to Dundee United.

Cardle brings the type of direct threat that has been absent from East End Park, and with fellow wide- men Steven McDougall and Willie Gibson joining the squad he will be pushed to maintain the high standard.

Despite the controversy surrounding his move from the Diamonds, the 22-year-old has settled in quickly at Dunfermline, where he has been training since the end of last season.

“It’s good to get games under my belt and I have already got a goal, so I’ve got to be pleased with that,” said Cardle.

“I think the manager is going to chop and change things to look at whether I can play on the left or the right, but as long as I am on the pitch and playing I will be happy.

“I came in last season for a month or so and I have enjoyed getting used to the facilities and getting to know the boys before the start of the season.”

Having played 150 minutes from the first trio of warm-up fixtures, Cardle will almost certainly feature against Hibs tomorrow, as the players push to impress for a starting berth.

He said, “At this stage it is just about getting minutes on the pitch and getting a few games under our belt before the start of the season.

“It’s all about getting a run out and getting back to fitness, especially for me because I haven’t played in so long.”

As a schoolboy Cardle played for Lytham Juniors and Burnley before signing his first professional contract at Port Vale.

After two years the Blackpool-born player went out on loan to Clyde before joining Airdrie in 2008.

An SFA investigation followed in January when he and McDougall signed pre-contracts to join Dunfermline without the club going through the proper channels.

However, both deals were eventually rubber stamped and Cardle is aiming for promotion in his first season in Fife.

He said, “Dunfermline are such a big club and we should be playing in the SPL.

“That is the reason I came here, and I want to be competing at that higher level.

“Hopefully we can go up this season, because I know that is where all of the boys want to be.”