Cardle wants feet to talk

"I am not going to get the best treatment but after what happened I am expecting it anyway.

Joe Cardle spent nine months of the 2008-09 season at Airdrie United before joining Dunfermline and it always raises the stakes when a player comes up against his previous employers. He left by mutual consent in March that season after an on the field disagreement with his own captain Marc Smyth.

As a result the 25 year old Pars favourite can expect some rough Diamonds when he returns to New Broomfield on Saturday. He is unlikely to need the shielding of his younger brother, Commonwealth Welterweight Gold medallist Scott but he is advising his girlfriend that she might be better to miss this one. He explained:-

"There is a wee bit of history with what happened at the end but I am not going to let that bother me. It is just another game to me, getting out there and hopefully scoring. Last time I was there wasn't too nice; I am not going to get the best treatment but after what happened I am expecting it anyway. I will let my feet do the talking.

"I seem to get stick wherever I go, it spurs you on to push you to wanting to be better than them. It has been a while since I have been back to Airdrie. I am looking forward to the game and hopefully we can get the three points that we need.

"Airdrie have won their first two games and are sitting top of the league. It is going to be a hard game and they are always up for a battle. They will be used to the astroturf and have an advantage over us.

"We have quality in the side that can change a game. It is something that was missing last Saturday, the quality that is normally there just wasn't there. We didn't create the chances that we normally do. Hopefully we can change that around this weekend.

"Most of the teams know each others qualities because they have played each other frequently over two or three years. It does help when you know each others qualities; the runs they are going to be making and the passes.

"We are a young team and it is going to take the boys a few months to get accustomed to each other. We are improving and you can see that every day in training. Don't get me wrong, we have no excuses for last weekend; we were poor but it is about moving on now and we are looking forward to the game on Saturday."

Joe is pleased to report that he is now at 100% fitness having recovered from a thigh muscle strain:-

"Last week it was come and go. At the start of that week I wasn't training but a couple of days in before the Saturday. I wasn't 100 per cent but I was dying to get back into the team. I got through the ninety minutes but it wasn't the best performance from me. I have trained all this week, feeling good and looking forward to the game."