Dunfermline manager Allan Johnston has claimed that his summer recruit drive proves that the Pars mean business in the Championship.
Experienced marksman Farid El Alagui joined the club on a short-term deal earlier this week and joins a squad that includes the likes of Nicky Clark, Kallum Higginbotham, John Herron and Gavin Reilly.
And despite a difficult start leaving the Fife side with only three points from their opening four matches, Johnston, whose team host Dundee United today, is adamant that he has put together a squad that can challenge at the top end of the second tier.
He said: “I am really happy with the squad that we have assembled. It is really strong and we have depth in every position with players who can come in and play. I am sure it will push us on.
“The club doesn’t want to stand still, we don’t want to be just making up the numbers in the Championship.
“We want to try and be successful, we want to push on this year.”
Johnston has urged El Alagui to prove he deserves a longer deal at Dunfermline after handing the 31-year-old a contract until January due to concerns over his fitness.
Johnston added: “He has trained every day, played a few games although he is still not 100 per cent match fit because he has not had a lot of games.
“He missed a bit of pre-season as well but he gives us that presence up front. He was prepared to come in and sign a short term deal and prove that he is worthy of a longer contract.
“You can see when talking to him that he still has that hunger and desire to do well.”
The Pars were beaten 2-0 by United at Tannadice in the Betfred Cup in July but Johnston insists that result will have no bearing today.
He added: “I think it will be a different game from both teams, you look at the players that they’ve brought in since then as well. But we have quality players and we must make sure that we make them defend.”
