Ask any footballer what is the toughest part of the season and grueling pre-season fitness sessions will be mentioned.

However, after three months out injured last term, Craig Wighton was practically skipping into hill sprints and bleep tests at Dunfermline.

The former Hearts striker faced a lengthy spell on the sidelines last term with a knee injury plaguing his fitness throughout the campaign.

Wighton, 26, did return for a cameo appearance in the final league match - against Ayr United - but is now raring to go for a new season at East End Park.

"I feel fit and well now, all good," said Wighton of his fitness after a narrow pre-season friendly defeat against St Mirren. "Something in my knee had been niggling for a while so I got that sorted.

"I feel good, so hopefully not just me but the full squad will keep fitter than we did last year - we'd be very unlucky if that happened again.

"When we have got everyone fit and ready to go we have got a good squad and we'll be competitive."

Aksed whether he was one of few footballers dreaming of pre-season sessions getting back underway he chuckled: "I know, exactly! It feels like I have been running the last three or four months because I was just coming back at the end of the season.

"It's nice to get some games as well. I came back reasonably fit because I had done a lot of work so I was looking forward to being in training and games and stuff so it's been good.

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"Hopefully, we keep fit for when the real stuff starts.

"It has been tough [in pre-season] but that is what you expect. I think nowadays as well, you have got programmes when you are away so everyone comes back fit but once the games start that is what you're training hard for.

"It has been hard so far but building towards the Spartans game and we'll be ready for that."

Dunfermline face Dundee in midweek ahead of their first Premier Sports Cup fixture against Spartans - and the Fife club will be boosted by David Wotherspoon and Chris Kane signing permanent terms for the upcoming season.

"He's a good player, he was in last season as well and we saw the  quality he had," Wighton said of Wotherspoon. "He's a good addition and hopefully we can get him fully fit and keep him fit because I think he will bring a lot to the team.

"Especially with Matty Todd missing for the first few games I'm sure D will need to step up. He's got experience and I think he will help the young boys as well and be a really good addition."

Kane was not involved in the friendly against St Mirren despite being back in training, but Wighton is hopeful he can strike up a free-scoring partnership with the ex-St Johnstone man this term.

On the competition for places up front - with Lewis McCann and Taylor Sutherland also in the building, Wighton added: "I think that is what you need. There are going to be times this season where boys are injured or dip in form so I think it is important to have three or four people competing for the two positions.

"Kano, we know what he can do. He was very good when he came in last year and he's had a good career. Again, it will be good for Taylor and the boys to learn from him as well.

"Hopefully, I can play with him as well, I didn't get the chance last year.

"I think we all probably bring something different so it's about building those relationships and getting to know each other better on the pitch."