Dunfermline boss John Potter believes the return of defender Ryan Williamson will give everyone at East End Park a boost.
The 18-year-old suffered a horrific dislocated kneecap back during the 4-0 win over Stirling Albion and has been on the long road to recovery ever since.
However, the full back is stepping up his training every day and could well be in line for a welcome return in the middle of this month.
Potter confirmed: “Ryan started running this week so I think it’ll possibly be a couple of weeks before he starts back.
“Then it’ll be another week or so to get him game time, so hopefully he’ll be back in the next three to four weeks.
“If we get him back in the middle of February that would be great.
“It could have been a lot worse but he’s done a lot of work to strengthen his knee up, his quad and his calf muscle.
“So he’s done a lot of work on that and getting him back will be like getting a new player to the squad.
“He’ll be great and hopefully getting him back will be a big plus for us.”
The Pars do not have a league game this weekend but Potter is expected to give several members of his squad a run out in Saturday’s Fife Cup clash against Cowdenbeath at Central Park.