SHANGHAI AND MIGHTY THISTLE
ALAN ARCHIBALD lapped up a winter break win against Chinese Superleague side Shanghai Shenhua with the Partick boss enjoying the added bonus of watching skipper Abdul Osman return from injury.
An own goal combined with Danny Devine’s effort secured a result which capped Partick’s trip to the Costa Del Sol as the squad get set to return to Glasgow this weekend.
Osman, out since August with a shoulder injury, started and his inclusion provided a huge boost for a side who were well worth their friendly victory in Marbella.
After a goalless first half Thistle edged ahead when Czech defender Milan Nitriansk’s cross found the net off a Shanghai player in 65 minutes.
The Jags doubled their lead five minutes later after Danny Devine headed home James Penrice’s corner.
Former Chelsea striker Demba Ba reduced the deficit with a long-range strike three minutes from time but Thistle held on for a confidenceboosting win over the big-spending Chinese side.
While Archibald will be delighted to see Osman back in action another of his Maryhill players is nearing a return to the first-team squad.
Christie Elliott has been out of contention since damaging his ankle after a collision with John Souttar in a 1-1 draw with Hearts in September.
After months of rehab the versatile Jags star has pencilled in a potential return next month.
Elliott, in Spain for the winter break with his team-mates, spoke to ptfc.co.uk and said: “It’s been a really good week but getting to this stage has felt like a very long time coming.
“I’ve always had in the back of my head that I want to get back involved as soon as possible but obviously with a longer-term injury you just have to take each day as it comes really.
“Marcin, the physio, has been really good with me and has kept me on track right the way through with different recovery plans designed to get me back playing as soon as possible.
“We are slightly ahead of where I should be right now in terms of recovery which is brilliant. When I was first told about my injury it was a four to six month timeline which was really tough to take.
“I’ve kept myself positive though and everyone at the club has been excellent in terms of pushing me on and keeping me motivated.
“It was obviously always going to be a long road back but I’ve been determined right from the start to get back sooner rather than later.”
Elliott worked hard during his rehab and revealed he wasn’t short of friends in the treatment room to keep him motivated.
He said: “It can be a lonely time being injured but the way it has fallen for me I have actually had a treatment room full of people to keep me company!
“That might not have been good for the gaffer but it certainly helped me in my recovery.”