At the start of the season, teenage defender Lewis Martin was not sure how much he would be involved with Dunfermline.
Yet, this afternoon he hopes he is readying himself for three games in just four days.
The youngster has gone from a virtual unknown to first-team regular with the Pars this term, with last weekend’s 4-2 win over Forfar Athletic his 10th appearance since he made his first top-team start in December.
The tall stopper will be hopeful of holding on to his starting berth for the visit of Ayr United, but he may then require the enthusiasm of youth to get himself through what could be a hectic few days.
Manager Jim Jefferies this week talked of Dunfermline approaching the “business end” of the season, but for Martin and fellow 17-year-old Ryan Williamson that could be taken to extremes this week.
After this afternoon’s League One encounter, the pair are expected to be involved in the Dunfermline under-20s side that takes on their Rangers counterparts in the SFA Youth Cup at Ibrox on Sunday.
Then, with a rearranged league clash with Arbroath to follow on Tuesday, and next Saturday’s trip to face play-off rivals Stranraer, the old adage of kids just wanting to play football will be put to the test.
Martin said: “I’ll maybe be playing Saturday and then Sunday. I obviously want to play with the first-team on Saturday and then I still want to play on Sunday, because it’s a big game for the under-20s.
“I’d like to be involved in both of them. Then there’s Tuesday’s game as well. So, we’ll need to wait and see what happens.
“At the start of the season I didn’t know if I would be playing, but I just kept on working hard and I’ve played quite a few games now, which is great.
“I just want to be involved as much as possible for Dunfermline for the rest of the season because it could be an exciting end to the season for us.
“Hopefully we can start with two wins this weekend. We did well to get to the final of the Youth Cup last season and we believe we can get a win against Rangers as well.”
Martin has added some youthful vigour to a defence that has been reshaped in recent weeks following the arrival of former Motherwell and Hamilton Accies centre-half Jonathan Page.
With Callum Morris a steady influence on those around him, Martin is delighted to be learning his trade in the heat of battle.
He added: “I made my debut last season, but my first start was against Ayr United down there earlier in the season.
“I’ve got happy memories of that day, because we won 4-2 after being 2-0 down, so it was a great comeback and a good win for us.
“Hopefully we can get another win against them.
“I’ve played the last two games with Jonathan, which has been really good. He communicates all the way through the game and him and Callum are both helping me a lot. I’m definitely progressing and I want to keep that going.”
That progress has not gone unnoticed beyond Dunfermline, with both Martin and Williamson being called up to a training camp for the Scotland under-19 side last week.
Although the pair were left out of the revised squad to face Switzerland in a friendly next month, Martin still harbours hopes he can force his way into coach Ricky Sbragia’s selection for May’s Uefa European Under-19 Championship elite round against England, Ukraine and Montenegro.
He said: “Myself and Ryan went away for a training camp with the Scotland under-19s last week and it was really good. I’ve got a couple of years at this level myself and Ryan have got this year and next year and we were the youngest in the squad. It’s really good to get international recognition at such a young age.”