Happy Jags gaffer gets a health kick as star trio return
ALAN ARCHIBALD is convinced the ill winds around Partick Thistle have been banished by their Spanish winter break.
The Jags boss is nearing a clean bill of health with a trio of long-term injured stars ready to return for tomorrow’s Scottish Cup clash at Queen of the South.
Skipper Abdul Osman and defensive duo Mustapha Dumbuya and Callum Booth all used last week’s trip to Marbella to stake a first-team claim.
Boss Archibald said: “It’s like three new signings. We’ve been missing four or five guys since August so getting three back is huge.
“The good thing about Spain was getting training sessions with Abdul, Callum and Mustapha. James Penrice came back from loan at Livingston and Christie Elliott’s not far away from joining us.
“Callum, Muzzy, Abdul and young James are all in contention for Saturday.
“We’ve gone from having one full-back to five in Marbella so it’s brilliant.”
The trip to Palmerston is being billed as a possible shock but Archibald insists he has his players well warned about the perils to avoid on the Doonhamers’ plastic pitch.
He said: “The boys are aware of it. People look at a side at the bottom end of one league against a team at the top half of another so there will always be shocks and we must make sure it’s not us.
“We’ll be treating it as we would another team in our league. They’re a good side.”
Archibald is in the market for a left-sided defender after on-loan Jordan Turnbull returned south.
He said: “We’d like to get one in but it’s unlikely to happen before Saturday.”