Thursday, April 25, 2024
SportScottish ChampionshipEx-Aberdeen & Fleetwood Town striker Declan McManus desperate to make an 'impact'...

Ex-Aberdeen & Fleetwood Town striker Declan McManus desperate to make an ‘impact’ at Dunfermline

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DUNFERMLINE have snapped up former Aberdeen striker Declan McManus and ex-Kilmarnock midfielder Aaron Splaine on one-year deals.

McManus was freed by Fleetwood Town last month after spending the season on loan at Dunfermline’s Fife rivals, Raith Rovers.

The 22-year-old, who has had three previous loan spells at Morton and another at Alloa Athletic, is now desperate to kick-start his career with a permanent move.

McManus spent last season on loan at Dunfermline’s rivals, Raith Rovers

And manager Allan Johnston believes the former Scotland under-21 cap has a determination to succeed at East End Park.

Johnston said: “Declan is a proven striker at this level. He’s still a young lad and he wants to be successful.

“He sees us as a team that’s going to be challenging at the top [of the league] and he wants to come here and make a big impact.

“With the attributes he’s got, he should do really well.”

DESIRE

Splaine is a player who is well known to Johnston, who worked with him at Queen of the South and subsequently signed him for Kilmarnock, where he made nine first-team appearances before being freed in 2016.

After going on trial with the likes of Leeds United earlier in the year, Johnston is convinced Splaine has something to prove with the Pars.

He added: “Aaron is someone I’ve known for a few years. I had him at Queen of the South and I took him to Kilmarnock as a young kid and he progressed himself into the first-team.

“It’s good to get him on board. He’ll bring a lot to the team; he’s got good energy, he’s a good passer of the ball, he’s aggressive and he can play a couple of different positions across the midfield.

“He’s got a desire to come in and play, and show everybody how good he is, so hopefully he turns out to be a good signing.”

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