Dunfermline boss Jim Jefferies has urged Ryan Thomson to focus on his football after the bad boy midfielder returned to training this week.
The 21-year-old has been the subject of a club investigation in recent weeks following alleged drunken off-the-field behaviour in Glasgow and has not played since the middle of August as a result.
However, Thomson has now been disciplined by the Pars for his involvement in the incident and the Fife club hope to draw a line under the matter.
Jefferies has taken a measured approach over the issue throughout and has not allowed the affair to affect results on the pitch, with the Pars currently flying high in the First Division.
And with Thomson now back in contention for a place in the squad away to Dumbarton, the East End Park boss cut a contented figure.
”We’re glad it’s all cleared up. He’s learned his lesson, he’s accepted it and he’s been disciplined fully by the club, which he understands,” he told Courier Sport.
”It’s not judging him on what he did, because that’s a separate issue. Not having conduct befitting a player at a professional football club is what he was guilty of and he accepts that and he’ll learn from it.
”I’m sure he won’t repeat it again and we’re delighted that this part of it has been put aside. He can concentrate on getting back into match fitness and putting pressure on.
”It’s great to have someone like Ryan Thomson sitting waiting there to put pressure on the boys who are in the squad and don’t deserve to be out because they’ve been playing great. They’ve now got to play well to stay in the team.
”It’s a great situation for myself and the club that players know people like him are knocking on the door. Everything is a plus at the moment but we know football has a great habit of kicking you in the teeth and that’s the bit where I’ve got to use my experience to let the players know they can’t take anything for granted.”
With his team playing well before the international break, Jefferies believes the enforced layoff will not have affected his players’ rhythm.
”From one point of view, we had three games the week before and with a small squad you want to go into the break on a high,” he said. ”The downside is because you are going so well you obviously want to continue.
”But it’s been all positive, though because it’s given us a wee bit of a chance to recover in terms of getting over those three games. We’re on a high. We played well in the last game and we’re looking forward to the next one.
”Every game is different. The more you go and do well, the more the other team is lifted to try and stop you from keeping it going, but we’ve built up a bit of momentum and we’re delighted so far.”
The Pars will try to take that momentum into a potentially difficult game away to Dumbarton, although the Sons have yet to record a point in this season’s First Division campaign.
Not all is rosy in the garden at East End Park, though, as midfielder Chris Kane has been ruled out for four weeks after picking up a leg injury while playing for the under-20s squad against Ross County in midweek.
Winger Joe Cardle is also a major doubt for Saturday after suffering a knock in the ribs during the international break. An X-ray has revealed Cardle has not broken any bones but he is struggling.