Thistle defender Lindsay can’t wait for Jambos
LIAM LINDSAY may have been attracting the attention of potential suitors but he insists he only has eyes for Partick Thistle.
The 21-year-old has established himself as a key weapon in the Thistle defensive armoury which has led to a number of clubs showing an interest.
A move down south would certainly be appealing to the Jags man but, ahead of today’s Ladbrokes Premiership encounter with Hearts, Lindsay declared that he is more than happy to continue his development in Maryhill.
He said: “The attention has been flattering but I just have to keep doing a job for Thistle and keep gaining experience.
“I obviously want to play at the highest level but I’m happy here at the moment. This is a great place to learn your trade.
“I am playing first team games every week and the gaffer has shown confidence in me which helps. It also helps me that both the manager and his assistant were both defenders themselves. In training there is a lot of focus on defence and that can only benefit me.”
Lindsay has racked up nearly 50 appearances for Thistle and the Paisley-born centre back, who came through the youth system at the Jags, is well aware that the experiences he has gained in the cut-and-thrust of Scotland’s top flight have stood him in good stead.
Lindsay, who is forging a handy defensive partnership with new recruit Niall Keown, added: “Getting the game time and the experience at this age is massive. You can maybe leave too early. You see it all the time.
“People going down south without any experience and they end up coming back up the road.
“Right now I am happy where I am and everything is going as well as I hoped. Of course I want to play at the highest level possible and go on to have a great career.
“Niall came in at the best possible time as we were in La Manga during the winter break. All the players mingled and we got to know him. He has slotted in really well and it has all been positive. I’ve had a few defensive partners but I enjoy playing with him.”
Thistle are just one point outside the top six and are slowly but surely inching themselves away from the perils at the foot of the table.
Lindsay said: “It’s the stage of the season where stringing a few results together can make all the difference.
“We have a run of home games coming up where we will be expected to take points so there are no excuses. We just need to keep working hard. Consistency is going to determine whether we make the top six or not.”
HEARTS will arrive in Glasgow still hurting from the savaging defeat they suffered to old foes Hibernian in the Scottish Cup replay on Wednesday night.
The Jags succumbed to a last-minute winner from Hearts in the previous encounter at Firhill while Sean Welsh grabbed an equaliser for Thistle in a 1-1 draw when the sides last met on league duty at Tynecastle in December.
Lindsay, who scored his first league goal at Firhill in that 2-1 defeat to the Jambos, said: “Normally after you take a battering you are looking to bounce back and I’m sure Hearts will be looking to do that. They will make it tough for us.
“We are at home and the onus is on us to come out and play, so we will be looking to take three points.”