Tuesday, March 19, 2024
SportScottish ChampionshipLewis Vaughan's focus is on firing Dumbarton to safety - even if...

Lewis Vaughan’s focus is on firing Dumbarton to safety – even if it means usurping Raith Rovers

BY ALAN TEMPLE – @CCP_Sport

LEWIS VAUGHAN insists he is determined to use a loan spell at Dumbarton to re-ignite his career – even if it means overhauling his own parent club.

The 21-year-old has penned a deal with the Sons until the end of the season after failing to cement a first-team berth with Raith Rovers this term – and could make a whirlwind debut against Morton today.

The loan switch raised plenty of eyebrows, given Dumbarton are only four points behind Raith in the Championship, with the Fifers on a winless streak that stretches back to October.

Vaughan signed a new deal at Rovers until 2018 before heading out on loan (Pic: Twitter @dumbartonfc)

However, there will be no room for sentiment as Vaughan – who boasts 13 goals in 30 starts since emerging through the youth ranks with the Rovers – looks to fire Stevie Aitken’s men away from the drop zone.

The promising forward said: “I had a cruciate knee ligament injury last season but managed to get myself back in the team this year, playing the first nine games – and I thought I did pretty well. However, I’ve found myself out of the team and haven’t been able to get back in.

“I went to see the gaffer [Gary Locke] and told him I needed to be playing first-team football, and he agreed that, at my age, I need to be out playing games and scoring goals. After missing so many games last season, that is vital.

“Dumbarton coming in was great for me, because it means I get to stay in the Championship – I don’t need to drop down a level – and I’ll be looking to do the business for them and then go back to Raith in the summer.

“It is obviously a strange situation, with Dumbarton being so close to Raith in the table – but I need to be professional at give my all for Dumbarton come three o’clock on a Saturday.

“I want to score goals and prove myself, even if that means Dumbarton shoot up the table ahead of Rovers.”

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