Place in team over place in sun for Byrne

DUNFERMLINE’S SHAUN BYRNE insists he would gladly sacrifice two weeks of winter sunshine in Cyprus if it meant he would remain in the Pars first team.

The 19-year-old midfielder was handed his first league start by boss Jim Jefferies on Wednesday, being thrown in at the deep end against Raith Rovers in a typical fiery Fife derby.

Thankfully, the youngster managed to keep his head well above water with an assured display in the middle of the park.

Byrne is hoping he did enough to keep his place in the side.

He is due fly out to Cyprus in a week’s time with the rest of the Dunfermline youth squad and coaches for a fortnight-long training camp, after the club received sponsorship from the EU Leonardo Da Vinci Fund.

He said: “We are supposed to be going to Ayia Napa in a week so I will have to speak to the gaffer and see what he thinks.

“To be honest, I would rather stay here if I was to be involved with the first team. On the other hand, if I wasn’t to be involved, it would be great to go away for two weeks in the sun training and playing so we will just have to wait and see.”

Byrne was only told for definite he would be starting on the day of the Raith game itself — and he revealed he took the field with words of wisdom from his boss ringing in his ears.

He said: “There was a bit of talk on Monday and Tuesday that I might be playing but I tried not to get too excited about it.

“I only found out I was in the team when we arrived before the game.

“It was a massive derby so the manager showed a lot of faith in me.

“The gaffer told me to try not to get too involved in the occasion and just play my own game and I would be fine.

“It was a great result for us, especially with Dumbarton beating Morton as well.

“It was really special for me making my debut in a derby and helping the side to victory.

“Hopefully, I can keep pushing on and stay in the team.

“There are a lot of good midfielders at the club so fingers crossed I have done enough to be picked on Saturday again.”

SNS. Shaun Byrne is determined to keep his place in the Pars starting line-up.