New Dunfermline striker Farid El Alagui admits he is hoping the Pars supporters witness the rebirth of his career – just weeks after becoming a dad for the first time.
The Frenchman is determined to prove his injury woes are behind him and earn a longer stay at East End Park after signing an initial deal until January earlier this week.
El Alagui was freed by Hibs during the close-season after enduring a frustrating injury-plagued two seasons, which included being sidelined for seven months with a torn Achilles, at Easter Road.
Off the pitch, the marksman’s spirits have been raised by the recent arrival of daughter, Nina, and El Alagui is keen to show he can take more than baby steps with the Pars.
He said: “The last couple of years have been difficult to get a run of games but hopefully that’s in the past now and I can look ahead.
“Since my first injury at Hibs, it took a while to get everything right – there was always a niggle here and a pain there.
“Maybe I was not 100 per cent ready and there were maybe imbalances in my body. I had to strengthen other parts of my body to compensate.
“I knew inside it was not right and last summer I decided to remove two screws in my ankle because they were bothering me.
“I just wanted to play with no pain and I’m glad I did that because this pain has gone away and that’s the main thing.
Now I feel good about myself, there is no pain whatsoever and that’s the main thing. You just want to be fit and not have any pain.
“I know how I feel about myself and I feel good but I can understand why people want to be sure that I’m fine.
“Hopefully, if everything goes to plan, I can get playing, score a few goals and in January we’ll see what we do next.”
Life is good on and off the pitch for El Alagui after he became a feather for the first time recently.
The forward, who could make his debut in Saturday’s visit of Dundee United, said: “My partner, Jenna, and I have just had a baby a few week ago.
“It’s my first and we called her Nina. It’s challenging, it’s the best feeling in life when you have a baby.
“You get less sleep obviously but you forget about it because it’s amazing.
“I think it changes you in every way, but it’s great.
“I’m happy because being at Dunfermline makes it easier to be with my partner in Edinburgh.”
