BY DARREN JOHNSTONE – Capital City Press
Dunfermline forward David Hopkirk admits he will not give up his place without a fight after being restored to the team for last weekend’s win at Stranraer.
The 22-year-old made his first start of the campaign in the 3-0 victory at Stair Park following ten outings as a substitute.
The former Celtic trainee has had to wait patiently on the sidelines for his opportunity, with manager Allan Johnston reluctant to change a side that had been winning regularly in League One.
But Hopkirk was thrilled to get his chance following the 4-0 Petrofac Training Cup thrashing at St Mirren a fortnight ago.
Hopkirk, who is hoping to get the nod against Forfar today, said: “I’ve just been working hard in training and was hoping to get my chance.
“The guys had been winning most weeks so it was hard for me to get in.
“You can’t go knocking on the manager’s door when you’re not playing and the team is winning.
“It’s easier to accept but it’s about working hard and trying to keep the head as well.
“You just have to get on with it and have a good attitude, if you give up and your head goes then you’re not ready to play.
“The main thing is winning games and the team going up, so you can’t be selfish.
“But I am back in the team now and hopefully I can stay there.”
Hopkirk lined up alongside Michael Moffat in attack against the Blues after being used as a winger in the past.
But the pacey forward is happy to play anywhere for Johnston.
He added: “I’ve not played up front in a while but the manager put me up there last weekend.
“I think I took my chance. I missed a one-on-one but the rest of my game was all right.
“That’s where I started playing at Celtic, I was there for six years and then I went to Hamilton.
“They dropped me into the hole and at Annan I played on the wing. I’ll play anywhere, I don’t think I’ve found a position to be honest.”
The Fife outfit will attempt to strengthen their grip at the League One summit in today’s visit of the Loons.
Hopkirk added: “We’re top of the league and we have to try and stay there now. Every team will want to play against Dunfermline but hopefully we can keep winning and go up.”
